Chattanooga Police Say the Gambling Raid Came after a Call from a Concerned Citizens
Several of the 48 gamblers who were busted this week in a Chattanooga, Tennessee VFW gambling raid have complained about law enforcement’s action. Several of the gamblers say they have been playing at VFW Post 4848 for a long time and they believed they were playing a legal tournament for charity.
The authorities who raided the event are saying the game was illegal. The Chattanooga Police Department says they received “citizen complaints” that illegal gaming was taking place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4848. The police say they’ve been raiding VFW Posts in recent months, so this was part of a pattern of busting illegal gaming operations.
Details of the Raid
The raid happened on August 22 at the VFW establishment on Riverside Drive. The raid was conducted as a joint operation of the Chattanooga Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, and its Crime Suppression Unit, as well as the Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Authorities presented a search warrant based on information they have received from a local resident.
When they found the game in progress, they found that the people involved where not members of the local VFW Post. Instead, they were gamblers who had rented the event hall and were conducting a tournament included 48 players. They wrote citations to 30 of the players for “gambling”. The officials wrote citations to 16 other gamblers for “gambling” and “possession of gambling equipment”.
Two Charged with Promoting Gambling
Two other men were the main focus of law enforcement officials. Rodney Randal and Michael Humphrey were charged with “gambling promotion” and “possession of a gambling device/record”. Several players came forward to say they were misled about the legality of the card playing, so it appears Mr. Randal and Mr. Humpfrey are being blamed for misleading the others about whether the game was a charity event.
Quotes from the Informant
Authorities say that the VFW officials did not appear to know what was taking place, though the same people rented the room twice a week. According to their account, the anonymous tipster said these were not veterans and there “was not an official veterans meeting.” Instead, the informant said “the individuals participating in these illegal activities would have gone wherever the games were being held.”
With the exception of Mississippi and Louisiana, southern states tend to have less permissive gambling laws. Local residents tend to know their local jurisdictions frown upon such activity, though charitable gaming laws often allow for gambling, if the proceeds go to a good cause. In many states, it is legal for charities involving religious or civic causes, hospitals, firefighters, or veterans organizations to have a charity gaming night. These events are called by many different names, including poker night and millionaire parties. It is not out of the realm of possibility for a group of card players to think a gaming event is legal, if they are told so by the organizers.
Player Accounts of the Raid
Several of the gamblers, on the other hand, say they were secure in the knowledge their gaming was legal. The players say they each paid $35 to enter a charitable poker tournament. In such events, only a small number of the players win money, based on which place they finish in the tournament. The winner of the event takes home a sizable prize pot.
Instead, all 48 players were written citations. The police arrested no one, saying the players cooperated and agreed to appear in court on their duly-appointed court date.
Reactions from Those Present
One veteran affiliated with the VFW said the police should spend their time enforcing the law against more serious crimes. The man said, “The officers that stormed in here should be busy doing other things.”
Another player at the tables said that he was misled about the legality of the event. The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was told the gambling was a charitable event and that the proceeds would go to the VFW. The anonymous player added, “I am truly a victim here. I know gambling and playing poker is illegal in the state of Tennessee, but I was told this was a legal charitable event.”
One other player said he was not sure why their game was singled out for prosecution. The player was particularly angered by the fact that everything was confiscated by the authorities. The player said, “Nobody knows why they messed with us. I am mad they took everyone’s money.”
