Really, gambling is illegal

Squares, brackets, the over-under, covering the spread.

Some common terms to a lot of people – the vast majority of whom aren’t in jail.

Sports betting seems to be mainstream activity, despite state laws prohibiting gambling.

“Really, gambling is illegal,” Kane County State’s Attorney John Barsanti said. “You could make the argument that any casual, friends playing a poker game could violate the law.”

But, that isn’t what happens.

“You have to look at the particular facts of the situation,” Barsanti said. “I don’t think the intent of the statutes in Illinois are to charge people who go about friendly wagers.”

Larger operations are targeted, he said.

Last week, Michael A. Alvarez, 52, was indicted on charges that he ran a $60,000 squares betting game out of Emma’s Pub & Cantina in Elburn. Alvarez was the manager at the bar, which was owned by his wife.

If convicted, he could serve prison time.

Elburn Village President Jim Willey will hold a hearing Wednesday to decide whether Kathleen Alvarez will lose the liquor license to Emma’s.

Elburn police first started the investigation when they received complaints just before the 2007 Super Bowl.

Police and city officials keep an eye out for gambling in restaurants and bars – when it’s public and can reach high dollar amounts.

St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte said no kind of gambling would be tolerated.

“Our officers try to keep their ear to the street when they hear anything might be running,” he said.

As long as it’s “significantly detrimental,” DeWitte said.

“I think from a social aspect there is a certain level of friendly wagering that does take place,” he said. “When it does get into significant dollars and does meet significant gambling, it gets to the point when other agencies get involved and it will affect the establishment’s liquor license.”

Government officials aren’t the only ones who look for signs of gambling. Chris Cellini owns Old Towne Pub & Grill in Geneva, and is adamant about watching for illegal gambling.

“It’s nothing we partake in at all,” he said. “It’s being visual and making sure all the employees are watching for it,” Cellini said. “We do what we have to do.”

April 14th, 2008
By KATE THAYER - kthayer@kcchronicle.com
kcchronicle.com

[Nothingbutnet]

It's ashame the government will tell us what we can't do with our money, but we can't tell them. Hey if I'm good at something that pays me more than a stupid job, then butt out! You can tax me. I don't care. Just don't try to take opportunities away from people that are good at what they do and don't have to answer to a stupid boss.

And so what if a casual gambler wants to take money THEY earn and use it to play games and bet it to try to make more. It's america. Can't we just be free?

I mean come on already, there are bigger problems in the world than someone paying money for a service to try and make more money. They know the risks. You don't have to protect them! My rant is over!

[Short_Stack]

I agree. If people want to gamble away their money, just let them. More likely than not they earned it, and they know the risks of gambling. So let them. Just because alot of people who gamble are stupid and don't know when to stop is no reason to make it illegal. I play poker with my friends all the time for money, and although casual games like that aren't really looked down on, it still annoys me to no end that it's an illegal activity. When in reality all it is is a bunch of friends hanging out. People just need to relax, quite honestly.

[Nothingbutnet]

Also, why is it that a person is allowed to spend their life savings or all their income on buying lotto tickets, but can't sit down at a card game that they at least have a chance in? Oh yea, tax profits!

[Beat_U_Down]

Somewhere somebody is getting beat down in the getto. In another place you have insanity happening in a church. And these lamers are worried about what people do in a pub that does not involve a gun.

Message to police and government - This is what makes people hate, distrust, and consider you STUPID.

A fine example of our tax dollars at waste.

[PassTheBall]

Also, why is it that a person is allowed to spend their life savings or all their income on buying lotto tickets, but can't sit down at a card game that they at least have a chance in? Oh yea, tax profits!

That's exactly the heart of the issue there. Mr Uncle Sam always has his hand out telling us what we can and can't do with out money and forcing us to give him a cut. Back about 150 years ago they called that slavery, today we call it rule of law.