20 Poker Player Victims Get Justice After Police Bust Robbery Gang

A gang was busted by Houston police in Texas, with several people involved in the alleged robberies of 20-odd poker players, various media reports said. At least 17 of the victims had been stalked by the perpetrators on their way out of Lucky J’s Social Club, although other establishments also reported similar crimes in their vicinities.

A total of four suspects have been arrested. Police had been able to bust the crew after they allegedly assaulted and robbed a 70-year-old man by following him to his home and trying to take away his wallet. In their panic to flee the scene of the crime, they ended up crashing their vehicle and running away on foot instead.  

Criminals Get Busted Over Their Targeting of Recreational Poker Players, Others

All four members of the gang have been arrested and identified, the police said, with a due date in court set for October. However, there could be other people involved, and more arrests are supposedly forthcoming, the police have said.

As to the legality of the “poker clubs,” they are not technically illegal, provided that they are operated by private persons as a recreational space for people to come together and play. Police have not taken any action against the venues themselves, focusing instead on the culprits.

The key difference to ensure that these poker clubs are legal is that there is no central party cutting a rake. In other words, the hosts have to compete with themselves to guarantee that they will have a piece of the action.