Underground Poker Discovery

Underground poker is poker played in a venue that is not operating in accordance with the gaming laws of its jurisdiction.

• Underground Poker Discovery Game
• Underground Poker Discovery Channel
• Underground Poker Discovery
• Underground Poker Discovery Youtube

What exactly is 'underground' poker depends on the local laws. In many (but not all) jurisdictions, an unlicensed poker game may still be legal if the game is played in a residential building, the host does not profit from hosting the game, and/or the buy-in fees do not exceed a certain threshold ... Even if the game itself is illegal, in some jurisdictions it is not illegal to just play such a game - in such cases, only the organizers and/or organizers of such games are civilly and/or criminally responsible. The intensity of the harassment of clandestine poker by law enforcement agencies also varies by location. Often, players and hosts of underground poker games are far more concerned with being targeted for armed robbery and other violent criminal acts as opposed to being targeted with legal action.

As a part of a three-hour block of entertainment, cable television’s Discovery Channel premiered a night of television called “ All In All Night.” While the other two programs were adequate, the. Watch later Poker buddies Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak saw the pilot episode of their “Underground Poker” show air Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST on the Discovery Channel. The trailer of the pilot.

An underground poker room will usually generate revenue for the profit of the host(s) and/or to pay for operating expenses by collecting rake and/or other house fees while not being a licensed gaming operator. Organized crime groups, such as the American Mafia, often host, provide protection for, or are otherwise involved in high-stakes underground poker games. Underground poker venues can also generate revenue by selling food and beverages (with or without the appropriate licences) and/or by offering side games with a built-in house edge such as blackjack or craps in addition to (or as an alternative to) collecting rake and/or house fees, but this is less common.

Canada[edit]

Under the Criminal Code, any game of poker that is not specifically licensed by the relevant provincial or territorial gaming regulator is covered by either Section 201 or Section 204 of the Code. Section 201(1) makes it an indictable offence for to '(keep) a common gaming house or common betting house' with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, while Section 201(2) makes it a summary offence to be 'found, without lawful excuse, in a common gaming house or common betting house' with a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.^[1] On the other hand, Section 204(1)(b) provides that 'a private bet between individuals not engaged in any way in the business of betting' is exempt from the provisions of Section 201, and thus is not unlawful.^[2] This has been consistently interpreted to mean that a poker game taking place in a dwelling house is legal in Canada, so long as the host is not taking 'rake' or otherwise directly profiting from hosting the game. Whether a poker game played on a similar 'not for profit' basis somewhere other than a dwelling house (for example, in the warehouse of a small business) also enjoys the exemption of Section 204(1)(b) is disputed.

The laws governing gaming in Canada were written prior to the invention of internet gaming. Notably, Section 201(2) makes no distinction with regards to whether individuals present in an illegal poker room are actually playing poker, while on the other hand there has never been (as of 2013) a prosecution in Canada simply for participating in Internet gaming not licensed in Canada.

Underground Poker Discovery Game

The actual penalties imposed for hosting or participating in illegal poker vary widely, and appear to depend greatly on the sensibilities of the presiding judge(s). For example, in 2011 a Winnipeg man (on appeal) won a conditional discharge despite having pleaded guilty to the more serious charge of keeping a common gaming house, meaning he did not get a criminal record.^[3] For the less serious charge of being in a common gaming house, discharges (including absolute discharges) are not uncommon, especially if the accused has no prior criminal record. But this is not always the case, for example in 2012 several Sudbury men were fined for the less serious charge of being in a common gaming house, meaning they did get criminal records. Among those fined in that case was at least one man whom the presiding judge acknowledged had not even been playing.^[4] Therefore, anyone charged even with the less serious offence of being in a common gaming house with respect to a poker game would be well advised to seek counsel prior to entering a plea on the charge.

United Kingdom[edit]

Under the Gambling Act 2005, commercial high-stakes poker is restricted to licensed casinos. However, the Act and associated Regulations do allow for private games in homes and similarly private venues, such as workplaces, without the need for special licences. Poker may also be played in pubs to a certain extent, although the regulations governing such games are complex.

Nevertheless, illegal games are believed to be widespread, especially in Greater London. In a number of cases, club premises certificates have been withdrawn following allegations of illegal poker.^[5]

United States[edit]

In the United States, the legality of poker varies from state to state.

New York[edit]

Under New York state law, it is unlawful to profit from promoting a poker game without the appropriate gaming licences. Simply playing in such a game is not unlawful.

Historical New York clubs[edit]

Some of the longest operating underground clubs have been in New York City. Two of these, the Diamond Club and the Mayfair Club, were famous proving grounds for such now well-known poker players as Howard Lederer, Erik Seidel and Dan Harrington. The New York Police Department, however, closed these clubs in the summer of 2000 during the Rudolph Giuliani administration’s law and order campaign^{[citation needed]}.

Recent years[edit]

Underground poker nevertheless flourished in New York City after the Giuliani busts. In Manhattan, circa 2004, the most well-known clubs included PlayStation near Union Square and New York Players’ Club (NYPC) (sometimes referred to as 72nd Street) on the Upper West Side.

On May 26, 2005 New York City police raided and shut down numerous rooms, including PlayStation and NYPC.^[6][7][8] Clubs that were not targeted then voluntarily closed their doors for some time in spring 2005, but were mostly reopened by that summer.

The reopened clubs began to draw some celebrity clientele, including Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees^[9] (who was officially reprimanded for playing in such clubs), and Robert Iler (who was actually present for the October 23, 2005 bust of the club Ace Point at 328 E. 61st Street).^[10] Raids continued regularly throughout 2005, closing clubs such as Rounders on West 25th Street in the Flatiron District of Manhattan,^[11] and, after a series of busts and re-opens, the Brooklyn Players' Club in Park Slope area of Brooklyn.^[12]

Clubs generally continued throughout New York City during 2006 and into2007, but seemed to the clientele to keep their size smaller to avoid theattention that the larger clubs such as NYPC and PlayStation brought.

However, robberies still remained common throughout 2007. This issue reached a crescendo when the City Limit, at 251 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, was robbed on November 2, 2007. Frank DeSena of Wayne, NJ was killed in an accidental weapons fire during the armed robbery.^[13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 201..
2. ^Branch, Legislative Services. 'Consolidated federal laws of canada, Criminal Code'. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
3. ^'Court overturns sentence for illegal poker club'. www.winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
4. ^nurun.com. 'Men fined for playing illegal poker'. Sudbury Star. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
5. ^'404'. www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
6. ^Hays, Tom (2005-11-27). 'Crackdown Raises the Ante for Poker Clubs in New York'. Boston.com. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
7. ^Associated Press (2005-11-21). 'Authorities crack down on NYC poker clubs'. USA Today. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
8. ^Lee, Jennifer (2005-05-28). '2 Manhattan Poker Parlors Raided by Police'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
9. ^Associated Press (2005-11-02). 'Yankees tell A-Rod to avoid illegal poker clubs'. Syndicated to ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
10. ^Friedman, Michael (2005-10-23). 'Anthony Soprano Jr. Caught in Poker Raid'. Pokernews.com. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
11. ^Fahim, Kareem (2005-10-16). '13 Arrested In Police Raid On Poker Club'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
12. ^'Blogger'. jauntyjoker.blogspot.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
13. ^Wilson, Michael; Annie Correal (2007-11-04). 'New Jersey Man Is Killed in Midtown Poker Game'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-29.

Underground Poker Discovery Channel

External links[edit]

Beginning on September 10, cable television’s Discovery Channel will dive into the world of casino gaming with the premiere of three different programs in a block called “All In, All Night.” While two of the programs will feature content that other cable channels have delved into, the third one features two of poker’s most eclectic personalities.

Premiering at 10PM (Eastern Time) next Wednesday, poker champions Antonio ‘The Magician’ Esfandiari (holder of three World Series of Poker bracelets that include the 2011 “Big One for One Drop” title and two World Poker Tour titles) and Phil ‘The Unabomber’ Laak (one WSOP bracelet, one WPT title and the record holder for the longest poker session) will once again join forces for a program called “Underground Poker.” The premise of the show looks to be highly interesting and, because of its stars, should provide plenty of entertainment.

Underground Poker Discovery

Esfandiari and Laak, using the connections that they have garnered in their years of playing poker around the world, will step away from the tournament format to go to “underground” (re: potentially illegal) cash games across the United States. In the debut episode, Esfandiari and Laak journey to New Orleans for action at several locations. The description from the Discovery Channel states, “Whether it is at a luxurious loft on Bourbon Street or in the back room of a seedy, swamp-side dive, high stakes and danger preside with every raise and every call…and that’s why it’s exactly where Antonio and Phil want to be!”

This isn’t the duos first foray into gaming-related television. In 2007, the duo were the featured stars of the MOJO Network’s “I Bet You.” In that program, Esfandiari and Laak journeyed across the U. S. for a program that featured them proposition (prop) betting on virtually anything that they came across. The series ran for two years on the MOJO Network and a third season was filmed, but the MOJO Network ceased broadcasting in 2008, ending the series (that third season has, as of yet, to ever be aired on any network).

The other two programs in the Discovery block lack the sizzle that the Esfandiari/Laak program will deliver. Beginning the night of programming at 8PM, a program called “Hustling the House” will open up the evening’s entertainment. “Casinos, lotteries and bookies all use math and science to stack the deck against you,” the Discovery plug states. “Now you can fight back…get the scoop that the House doesn’t want you to have with “Hustling the House.”

Sandwiched in between “Hustling the House” and “Underground Poker” will be a program called “Casino Secrets.” Premiering at 9PM, the show will focus on (naturally) casinos and the tactics they employ on their properties. “Every single detail in a casino is designed to keep the gambler from leaving,” Discovery says in the plug. “The longer the gambler stays, the more likely that gambler is going to lose money. “Casino Secrets” will feature insiders discussing the world of high rollers, the true odds of roulette, the inner workings of a slot machine and other casino mysteries. With “Casino Secrets,” the truth is about to come out.”

Underground Poker Discovery Youtube

The new programming from the Discovery Channel is rather ambitious because, other than taped poker tournaments or made-for-television events, gaming hasn’t been the “featured attraction” of a night of programming. The subject matter for the first two programs on “All In, All Night” might be a retread of other past programs (“Breaking Vegas,” which aired on the History Channel from 2004-2006 and can sometimes have “special” airings), there is only one other program that might be comparable to Esfandiari and Laak’s program. The National Geographic Channel aired “Inside Underground Poker” in 2013, focusing on the illegal (and famous) world of the New York City poker underground. That show did not feature luminaries such as Esfandiari and Laak, however.