Anchorage Shuts Down Illegal Gambling Operations

The Anchorage Police Department raided and shut down three illegal gambling operations. Police say that gambling involving poker is big business in the region. However many are asking why the bust took so long on the high-stakes illegal operation.

One of the locations raided was 4100 Arctic Blvd, where games of Texas Hold'em poker were being held. Two illegal gambling operations were busted, one involving a $100 buy-in, while the other involved $1,000. A short distance down the road is 305 Smith Dr, where another house was busted.

"At least two, maybe three years, something like that. It's been going on awhile," said Delores Coleman, a resident of Arctic Boulevard. Many of the residents say they are not surprised.

Likewise, on East Fifth Avenue, police say that high-stakes gambling are nothing new and are not given the highest priority.

"It's not been a high priority because it is a misdemeanor crime," said Mark LaPorte of the Anchorage Police Department.

The police explains that playing cards for money is perfectly legal, as long as there is no middle man that gets paid in the game.

"Yeah, there's some. When I was in the night time, I could tell you where they were," an Anchorage cab driver said when asked whether he knows location where people can just drop by and participate in games.

"I know there are quite a few. Personally, through my investigation, I can't release the exact number, but there are numerous," said LaPorte.

October 07, 2006
Michael Orwell