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Police raid suspected casino house

Posted on July 10th, 2010

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An alarming call from a University of Indianapolis professor paved the way for the arrest of owners and operators of a gambling hideout at 500 block of National Avenue on Tuesday. The professor who gave the important tip was said to have grown suspicious and worried after students in the area have gambled away their tuition money, some even resorted to incurring loans in playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker.

A sort of gambling “epidemic” is what police is calling a recent surge of gambling incidences among younger people,mostly students on their early 20s. None of the people arrested on the raid were from the University of Indianapolis though. It is said that the advent of poker games seen on tv in the early 2000s led to more gambling cases among younger audiences. Lt. Jeff Duhamell, spokesman of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says it doesn’t help that gambling is seen first hand on television. “It’s on TV showing guys winning hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said. “The reality is these young people go out here and get in debt over their heads, and it becomes an addiction.”

19 people were arrested on the Tuesday raid and $7000 worth of poker chips were recovered and 2 handguns. Owners of the poker house raked in thousands, as much as $5,000 a day. A $100 fee was being asked to join a Texas Hold’ Em game. Accused of being the owner of the poker house is 45 year old William Fostner. He was charged with professional gambling and promoting professional gambling which are both felony cases. Another one arrested, Justin Kirkham, only 23 was also charged with professional gambling. Others that were arrested were charged with misdemeanor gambling.

Fortner carried out business rather discreetly, handing out cards with labels like “Poker Club. Private Sports Club,” the police said. They believe players were only recruited through word-of-mouth. Police also said that Fortner offered credit to loosing gamblers in need of more money and that a 10% rate is given to the house for all winnings. Except recently, loans were no longer given to players. Expert weighed in on the issue and said that card games have been an activity most college-age students engage in for a long time. A survey made on 2008 says that high school and college kids’ participation in gambling activities have declined in recent years. However, one third of young men between ages 18 and 22 play card games at least once in every month. Men are also 4 times most likely to gamble in card games as compared to women, said Dan Romer, institute director.

Spokeswoman of the University of Indianapolis, Mary Atteberry, expressed her surprise to hear of the news. “This is all new to us,We were not aware of any problems.” She explains that students in the university did not show any indication of such problems and that even the police are completely unaware. Indianapolis Police or the IMPD have been looking into the poker club for sometime now but it took them a while for their undercover cop to go inside and play in the games.

Previously, the gambling den was on 5200 block of Madison Avenue. Joe Rankin, landlord of the new poker house, said he rented the store 2 weeks ago to Fortner. “He said he was opening a business where he taught people how to deal poker” said Rankin. “DTS Services” was the sign on the door of the house, and security cameras were installed above the windows outside, these were confiscated by the police. Two doors were also installed on the hallway of the house, before players can go inside. Next door neighbors are a land-surveying firm and a telemarketing company.

Robert Hyde, one of the co owners of the land-surveying business next to Fortner says the poker house must be open only during evenings since he never saw anyone come inside during the day. He only notices a parking lot full of cars every Wednesday mornings, he assumes those are the people playing in the poker house, and by afternoon, owners one by one pick up their cars. Fortner too was one to arrive but was quick to lock up and leave. For Fortner all he did was to conduct a business. “As far as I know, we weren’t doing anything illegal”.