When did US police become the security arm of the casinos?

The American war on poker continues as another tournament is busted by cops (guns drawn!).

The dirtiest aspect of the whole affair is the cheating allegation (as if they would know one way or the other). It’s obviously another intimidation tactic; putting a stink on the game so that the regular players will not relish coming back and will presumably head off somewhere State-approved to do their poker-playing.

And if you don’t feel sick yet, how do you like these apples? “Police also took a 13-year-old girl out of the home, away from her parents, and turned her over to child protective services. In addition to the charge of running an illegal gambling operation, the hosts are also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”

(via Boing Boing)

Chip Reese 1951-2007

Oh. Didn’t see that one coming. RIP, fella.

Meanwhile, Bush’s war on poker continues, leaving bodies in its wake (both links care of Boing Boing)

Non-poker players need not worry about this one

Can anyone tell me what it is about the Full Tilt site that attracts so many arseholes? For a site run by poker players, there’s an awful lot of vicious trash-talk that you just NEVER hear from any of the top pros. The other sites I play on, maybe from time to time you get the odd idiot, but on Full Tilt it’s just endemic. Has anyone else noticed this?