I am sick to my stomach.. Yesterday, the Tucson Police along with the Ariz. Dept of Gaming siezed all of Club Royales possessions. Here is the article..
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/273121
This is an outrage how 1 sided the story is and I am really pissed! Here is a copy of Harold Lee's statement to the press, sent out this early morning.. This is BY FAR FROM OVER! At this point I know what I want to do, but implementing it is going to be tough. We need to band together, all players from Az and let them know how we feel about this! They cannot just do this to us and get away with it! The Pima County Prosecutors dont even know if they are going to Prosecute!
*****For Immediate Release ****
Tombstone, AZ a joint press release from:
The International Card & Game Players Association and the Arizona Card Room, Inc
We cannot comment on the case against Johnny or Donna Rodger as we revoked the club’s license and charter on November 7th for cause, and reported our concerns to the Tucson police at that time.
Playing poker for cash is not illegal conduct in Arizona!
Third party profit taking, from lawful conduct, is not illicit or criminal conduct.
All lawyers trained in the law would insist that I not talk to the press any further; pending the outcome of potential criminal charges. And, that is solid lawyerly advice, but precisely why we will not be retaining a lawyer for the looming battle. We have been spoiling for this fight for nearly four years in our attempt to free the sport of poker, from the clutches of the gambling industry, and their allies.
However, it appears from press reports that the Tucson police are being used by the quasi-legal Arizona Department of Gaming (ADOG) to shake down our professional players and force them back into the criminal enterprise run by their employer; the Indian gambling casinos. It won’t work this time either.
The Arizona Department of Gaming; for at least the forth or fifth time, is attempting to coerce our professional players back to the reservation casinos, where they can continue to steal from our prize purses and soil our contests with gambling schemes. And they would like to closet me in some jail for providing safe and secure venue for my friends and associates, whom just want to conduct their lawful business of playing cash poker.
This quasi-police agency supported only by gambling industry money (no tax dollars) has no business in our poker rooms and they know it! The folks at ADOG need a leash; and a course in what constitutes abuse of prosecution. Their continued boorish behavior is moving them ever closer to the edge.
They have continued to prosecute our ACR System, even though their boss (the Arizona Attorney General) and the Cochise County Attorney have denied repeated request to prosecute! In fact, the Attorney General announced publically in June, that he cannot obtain a conviction.
And, he is not alone; seven cities have issued licenses for our ACR System. They had good reason; we are not breaking any laws! And, we provide a very good public service to the community.
Whereas, ADOG and their employers (the Indian casinos) are stealing money from our members prize pools when they play in their poker rooms. Not withstanding their outrageous attempt to sanctify theft and conversion in an illicit compact with the state---raking the pot is theft. And they should be prepared for the industry’s large counter-claim for many years of their continuing theft and conversions of our property. We are gaining strength every day.
We are also gaining refuge in the cities and towns that recognize the inequities of previous pubic policy regarding the sport of poker. Indian casinos, like most of the casinos in the gambling industry, victimize the professional poker players. They invade our contest, and discreetly rake money from the prize purse (lots of it) which they then use to soil the integrity of the game with silly jackpot schemes.
Ever increasing public demand for poker rooms is evident by the fact; that in just a few months of operation we garnered over a thousand members. And the reason wasn’t as reported “just because we offered a true no limit game” it was because we charge players accessory fees up front, and for about half the amount they steal.
The prosecutors in Arizona are aware that the social gambling exemption is flawed. And, many of them aren’t too comfortable with the gaming compact either; since it unlawfully creates two separate and unequal classes of voters, each under different criminal liabilities.
The act of social gambling is a unique creation of the legislature; crafted solely to protect adults engaged in professional strategic competitions from criminal liability. It is a clear sanction for our very old and beloved profession of Poker. Poker, like all other sports wants to be free of the influence of the gambling industry---and we will. It is only a matter of time.
The Social gambling law does not make cash poker a criminal act!
It does however; criminalize the admirable and very lawful act of third parties earning profit from lawful conduct, such as providing safe haven for adults playing cash poker..
The only acts criminalized under the social gambling provision of the gambling law are third party profits from lawful conduct. Understanding all other acts being lawful there is no criminal activity or conduct available to prosecutors in the act of earning money or a profit. And providing services and a safe environment for those engaged in lawful conduct must be prima fascia evidence of legality. In all cases; playing the sport of poker professionally is clearly not unlawful conduct in Arizona--- promoting the sport of poker is not the equivalent of promoting gambling.
Under the social gambling statute; the State is attempting to manufacture a crime from whole cloth, by assigning criminal conduct to an accessory of a lawful act by the principal? If this appears to be nonsensical then you understand the problem.
There are no lawful grounds under statutory or common law; for the state to criminalize marketers that provide goods and services to lawfully sanctioned conduct---like playing cash poker.
A larger problem for the police, than the vague and nonsensical social gambling exclusion, is Arizona’s exemption for bona fide businesses; poker easily qualifies.
State law exempts from the criminal gambling laws; ANY bona fide business whose transactions are subject to the law of contracts. And, we are more than prepared to establish our bona fides to any judge or jury. The Sport of Poker is exempted from the gambling statutes in Arizona by being a bona fide international sport and profession of long standing.
The public already acknowledges our bona fides; we are the third highest viewed sport on ESPN and, our professional players hold untold billions of dollars of bona fide contracts. And none can argue that the prize pool in a poker match is anything other than a contract. We are clearly a bona fide global business within the sports and entertainment industry---our right to self regulate and police our sport will not be denied us!
This is why we are in discussions with state lawmakers and lobbyist; we support state regulation of our industry. However, we feel that the growth of poker requires that the state respond by helping our industry and our millions of fans to organize our lawful industry and sport. Not illegally prohibit or restrict access to this benign adult amusment. Adult amusements as popular as poker; cannot be prohibited or suppressed, but they can and should be regulated.
In spite of our egregious treatment in this case; we will continue organizing our business, while continuing to work with community leaders and officials. Or, anyone else wanting to help us bring this great old sport out of its insalubrious environments and into fair, safe, and very transparent venues, sanctioned by the players.
Sincerely,
Harold Lee ---Founder of the International Card & Game Players Association, Inc
Tombstone, Arizona
*****For Immediate Release-----Contact person Harold Lee (520) 559-5306****