Over the summer a new club opened in Tucson, Arizona and quickly became a subject of investigation after police received several complaints on the business. On the outside it looks very simple but on the inside a couple was running an illegal high roller poker room.

Undercover agents were sent inside the club, called Club Royale and they found the business to be exchanging large amounts of money, some days making as much as $550 an hour. This is what made the business illegal. According to Arizona law the ‘host’ or ‘house’ cannot get a cut of the player’s money.

The investigation lasted four months until police had the information they needed to bring charges. There were eight tables where nine players could sit and play along with an atm, video surveillance and armed security guards. One police sergeant stated that the dealers dealt the cards and players would come inside and buy chips from a cashier who was in a caged area.

Three have been named as suspects but have yet to be charged. If charged they could face state felony gambling charges.


- 2008-12-24