Casino News: Action Taken by Enforcement

Industry observers and online gamblers were terribly shocked at the action of US enforcement officials following an incident in Whitefish, Montana. According to the source of Associated Press report, a *raid* was performed on a legitimate antique shop this week. Antique gambling equipment worth $77 000 were seized.

A 19th-century roulette wheel and other historical gambling equipments were amongst the items. These items were seized according to the state law prohibiting the possession of unlicensed gambling equipment, revealed by the authority.

Though the owner of Cowboy Cabin Antiques is not getting any clue about the action taken by the US enforcement officials. He said," Some of these things are over 100 years old. These are not gambling devices. These are antiques. It's a historical collection."

But, his strong reaction went in vain & three officials from Department of Justice Gambling Control did their duties on January 31, 2007.

Two roulette wheels, two punchboards from early 20th century, a chuck-a-luck, a small, hourglass-shaped cage (spinning cages three dice inside) were amongst the seized items.

The agents will come again to seize some earlier 19th century items like a craps table, a blackjack table, a roulette table and a smaller craps tabletop etc.

Ron Turner claimed that the seized items are worth $77 000 according to approximate estimation.

No charge sheet was flied against Ron Turner, the owner of the store & his wife against Ron or his wife Eila. They shifted to Whitefish from California in recent past. They had an antique store in California also. Cowboy Cabin is the name of the casino opened by them in last December.

Administrator of state’s Gambling Control Division, Gene Huntington commented that most probable charge would be misdemeanor possession of illegal gambling equipment by the storeowner.

Huntingtonalso informed that these equipments could be destroyed. These could be used for training purpose or be awarded to any museum as antic show pieces.