This is not the first such raid. A Snohomish, Washington retirement community had its game shut down.
Four senior citizens at a condominium in North Florida had their low-stakes game of mahjong raided by the police. When asked why the raid happened in the first place, one of the gamblers said she knew who it was and they were a known “troublemaker”.
Though no one received official sanction for their gaming activities, the investigation did force members of several gaming groups at the complex to stop their activities, or else curtail them seriously. Given that these might be some of the few changes those involved have to enjoy group activities, it is a shame such a thing would happen.
Gamblers Laughed Off the Absurdity
Most of those involved laughed at the absurdity of police action to stop senior citizen gambling. The four women, aged 87 to 95, found the situation ridiculous and (more or less) laughed off the idea. They said the police who conducted the investigation even apologized for having to do so.
Yet despite the humor, the housing authority had to shut down games for real money. Those involved might continue, but they have to be a great deal more secretive about their gaming.
Low-Stakes Mahjong
As the story was first reported by the Heritage Florida Jewish News, four women at the Escondido Condominium in Altamonte Springs got together daily to play small-stakes mahjong at a table near the swimming pool. These women had played in the clubhouse, but when the retirement community received complaints, they moved their game outside. This wasn’t enough for the police informant, who also lives at the Escondido Condominium complex.
This person called the local police to report gambling taking place at the complex: mahjong, penny-ante poker, and $5 bingo night. When a police investigator conducted a visit to the premises, he found a taped note for Friday night “horse races” urging residents to bring small-denomination dollar bills. It turns out the results of the horse races are determined by the rolling of dice. It’s a popular activity, but hardly compares to betting the horses at a real racetrack.
Friday Night Horse Racing
The investigator showed the note to the condominium board, as well as the specific Florida gambling statutes which prohibit such things. According to state laws, people can wager up to $10 on a game of chance, but they cannot advertise such a game.
No one was arrested, charged, or fined in the raid. The police were apologetic to the condo board for the intrusion. Later, though, the condo board got nervous and decided to ban all gambling inside the clubhouse. That has caused hardship for the senior citizens involved.
Zelda King Knows Who Snitched
Zelda King, one of the mahjong players, who said she’s been playing mahjong for 7 decades, told a reporter, “My neurologist, Dr. Oppenheim, said it’s very good for the brain.”
Neurologists say that working out the brain is like working out the body. People do things which keep the mind active are helping to maintain their qualify of life and their lifespan. Reading, painting, and learning new skills is one way. Pursuing lifelong hobbies or playing games are common ways of maintaining one’s mental activity, too.
It is human nature to keep things interesting (keeping count) by adding a few low-stakes bets to the game. Few people see such gambling action as a problem, yet police have to investigate any reported activity.
Raids Make It Harder to Plan Gaming
King added that the whole matter was seen as a joke. She said, “This is ridiculous. We haven’t played in the clubhouse for weeks. We have to go to each other’s homes to play and not everyone lives in Escondido. It is an international game and we are being crucified.”
Zelda King said that person who called the police was a troublemaker. She said that is exactly what the person succeeded in doing, because it makes their daily activities harder to plan. She said, “It’s hard to keep a group like this together. Someone’s always got to go to the doctor. Someone’s always sick. We’re all old. We’re all on the brink.”
The incident goes to show several things. One, even octogenarians enjoy a good gamble. Two, you can find troublemakers anywhere you go in life, even in retirement homes. Three, all the non-senior citizens still have to worry about bad gaming laws even when we retire to the quite life.
