Illegal Poker Games Raided in Toronto

Illegal poker games were the subject of four different police raids last week in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Suspected gaming houses were entered, and 45 adults from the ages of 19 to 88 were charged. This follows a similar raid in November of 2007 in which more than 60 arrests were made.

Each locations was designated as a business and not a private residence, and three were located in industrial units. The fourth was a well-known sports bar called the Garden of Eden. Three raids took place in Toronto proper, while the last was in the nearby area of Pickering, Ontario. Nine people were charged for keeping a common gaming house, while the remaining 36 were charged with being found there.

The raid was a collaboration between the Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. $12,000 was confiscated from players, as well as tables and equipment worth around $23,000.

Citing the growing popularity of Texas Hold’em in Toronto, Det. Emilio DiPoce commented that the raids had just barely scratched the surface. “It’s an epidemic right now,“ he said. Ultimately run by organized crime, DiPoce went on to note that these illegal poker rooms “generate millions for operators.”

People involved with the ring will be facing between $5,000 and $70,000 in fines, while repeat offenders will run the risk of serving jail time.

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Illegal Poker Games Raided in Toronto