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| Poker chips and cash found at the venue. — Photo courtesy of police source. |
Viet Nam News
HCM City — HCM City’s police busted an illegal gambling operation run by Đặng Văn Quý, 45, a native of southern Đồng Nai Province on Tuesday.
Quý and some 30 others were taken into police’s custody after the police raided the Bridge and Poker Sài Gòn Center located on the 9th floor of Lotus Hotel on Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street, District 3.
They were found gambling with real money in the disguise of a poker tournament. Among the evidence found at the scene was a large amount of cash totalling tens of thousands of dollars.
The club was founded in April. Some 30-40 gamblers frequent the venue on a daily basis, who were given chips for their money and subjected to a 10 per cent exchange rate (US10$ for $100 worth of chips), according to the police.
Similar illegal operations were stopped by the police earlier this year in Phú Nhuận District and District 7 with dozens of gamblers arrested.
Poker, as a sport, was registered with and regconised by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Poker clubs can be found in many cities and provinces across the country which are gathering places for players and may host poker tournaments. There is, however, no detailed guidelines on their day-to-day activities and tournament prizes. — VNS
