Milo;167201 wroteFor the next time that a raid occurs, wasting our hard earned tax dollars, I submit the following for your use:

Dear Editor:

There have been a number of articles in your publication of late detailing the arrests of patrons, and owners, of so-called "underground" gambling halls, more specifically poker clubs. A common thread that runs through these reports is the allegation by police that huge sums of money are being made by the operators of these clubs. Further reading of these reports, however, shows very minimal amounts of cash being seized with each raid. Another common element is the months of investigation that is required before warrants are served, and raids carried out. This would seem to indicate a significant allocation of resources and manpower to these investigations by the police. A pattern seems to have emerged from these reports. Namely weeks, if not months, of investigation, followed by a few raids which will apprehend a relatively small number of people, and an even smaller amount of illicit funds.

My question is: Why? Since the province already sanctions the activity (poker) being carried out within these clubs in it's own casinos, it cannot be a moral issue. If it is a question of licensing, or tax revenue, then why not open up the system to accommodate the obvious demand that exists? If, as the police claim, these clubs are making huge sums of money, why not legitimize them and tax that revenue stream? This would have the added benefit of freeing up police resources to tackle the far more serious (to my mind) policing issues facing this province.

In conclusion, it seems to me that there is a serious cost-benefit deficit involved here. I would really like to see a more in-depth investigation of this issue by your publication, from start to finish, rather than the standard regurgitation of police press releases that seems to have become the norm.

Sincerely,

The preceding was sent via e-mail to the Star this afternoon. Lets see if they print it. Doubtful, but if we keep flooding the various outlets that report these bogus operations, maybe someone will take the ball and run with it.

nice effort; I'm surprised none of the newspapers, etc. have done an expose on underground poker in the GTA. Would make for an interesting story. All this trouble over a $40 tourney? Must be bigger fish in the GTA to spend these resources on.