Players caught in an illegal poker game laughed at police when informed they would be fined £800 each for breaching coronavirus lockdown regulations in Blackburn, England this week…
Officers issued 26 £800 fines after breaking up a poker party at Robertos Bar, Richmond Terr, Blackburn on Sat. They entered & found a party with people who had travelled from as far as Nottingham. The organiser & person responsible for the building has been reported for summons pic.twitter.com/yXdN4dFecx
— Lancashire Police (@LancsPolice) March 8, 2021
Illegal poker game in Blackburn
A police raid discovered two tables full of players after receiving a tip-off that a room above Roberto’s Bar and Bistro in Blackburn was being used to host a secret illegal poker event.
As the bodycam footage of Lancashire police constabulary shows, they have found more than two dozen people on the premises during the early evening raid last Saturday.
The illegal poker games were a direct breach of the UK’s coronavirus rules, with Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods stating that the party was, “particularly insulting to the NHS staff who risked their [lives] to treat people with Covid”.
A total of 26 £800 fines were handed out to the participants and guests, including the organizer and person responsible for the building. Some of the players had travelled from neighbouring towns and cities to play.
Sergeant Steve Dundon, of the Blackburn neighbourhood policing team, said: “This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable and not only potentially puts lives in danger, it also risks extending the lockdown yet further.”
The premises which hosted the illegal game may face further problems. Lancashire Police reportedly is working with Blackburn with Darwen Council ‘to consider whether to seek a review of the premises’ licence.’
Further Coronavirus Lockdown Violations
Deputy council leader, Phil Riley, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to hear of this flagrant abuse of the lockdown rules.”
However, Roberto’s Bar and Bistro claimed on Facebook they were not behind the illegal gathering.
We are fully aware of the article circulating from the weekend regarding a poker game.
This was NOTHING to do with…
Posted by Roberto’s Bar & Bistro on Monday, March 8, 2021
The UK has been one of the hardest-hit nations in the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is far from the only country to discover poker players willing to flout the law for a game.
In India, Bollywood star Shaam was among 12 men arrested for hosting a private poker game at his home in Chennai. It is believed that police were given the tip-off by another regular who had lost a lot of money in the illegal game.
As we reported last year, police in Kazakhstan launched a ‘large-scale operation’ targeting an illegal gaming establishment. Their search revealed six gaming tables for poker and American roulette, along with playing cards and chips.
A ‘special access system’ allowed regular players into the illicit poker-room and the police arrested more than 30 staff and customers.
Underground casino busted in Almaty: illegal on two counts, first that casinos are only allowed to work in two zones in #Kazakhstan, second breaching lockdown https://t.co/iRnRczrhNC
— Joanna Lillis (@joannalillis) April 27, 2020
Another incident of illegal gambling in Germany
In Germany, meanwhile, a group of 15 people playing poker at a restaurant was fined a total of €4,000 after police discovered two tables laden with poker chips. The bar owner was also reported for further investigation. The guests had apparently been serving themselves alcohol.
The Netherlands has also seen a high-profile coronavirus poker breach. Two officers were injured on a raid on a poker game in Zaandam, following a public tip-off.
The 53 players had to pay fines of €390 each for breaking social distancing rules. Many of them have travelled from other areas to the tournament. The event took place in a commercial building in the North Holland city.
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