Depending on the regime, pinochle or bridge at a nickle per point gets you there. Playing for cookies or donuts is definitely past the bar (cops love the pastry). If you live in a house that's you nominally own but you're a few months behind on the rent (property taxes), any excuse works.

"The regular player said the police told him, “The reason we’re here is there are Asian gangs targeting these games,” and it’s certainly true that some private gambling events in Fairfax County have been robbed by nefarious elements. The player said he wanted to respond, “So you robbed us first,” but he did not."
Truth.

I am *very* concerned about the trend of using the SWAT team for routine investigations that, as one of the suspects said, could have been carried out with an officer knocking on the door with a clipboard.

I think it's bad that they're bothering people, but setting that aside, the military approach is completely wrong.

OMG, if I play Monopoly with my kid will we be raided? I use real money!

And while they are raiding poker players, they leave the destructive insider traders wreck the markets and put millions out of a job...

it is all about the money. what a travesty.

moving to the wilds of montana or alaska look to be in order

You'd think that the raiders black outfits would include black cowls equipped with mask, spiked clubs and gloves with spiked sewn into them. As long as you're going medieval, why not go all the way?

Shakedown = Motivation

Gee, a protection racket?

Some years ago I hosted some so called "swinger parties" in my house for willing participants in Las Vegas. We got raided with a "search warrant" one day by over 20 county people from various agencies looking for any sign of wrongdoing (of which they found none at all after hours of searching). They broke down the door without even giving me a chance to open it, disassembled my driveway gate, and basically invaded my house for hours. I was so disgusted I have NO MORE RESPECT for county government here. Not much more for our federal government here.

This is insanity. The cops just wanted to steal the money there. Gambling is ok when its done in a casino or where there is no money made at home. I bet in the future these citizens will be a lot more careful. One thing would be to NOT have cash or any records lying around. Just use monopoly money or something redeemable for us government money LATER (not that either of them are worth more than the paper they are printed on)

The biggest issue here is the "Civil Forfeiture."

That single law is the total motivation for these actions. There are only a few states in this country with NO Civil Forfeiture laws or ones that could be considered "reasonable."

http://endforfeiture.com/
http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/08/propert...
http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/RS_N...
http://perspicuity.net/forfeiture/forfei...

Here are some things that DO happen. During traffic stops your cash is seized and used to throw parties.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...

BEWARE OUR GOVERNMENT IS TURNING INTO 16TH CENTURY ENGLAND WITH BRUTE SQUADS COLLECTING MONEY.

On the bright side, North Carolina where I live has NO Civil Forfeiture laws, and your assets can ONLY be seized IF you are convicted of a crime.

This law should 1) not exist on the books, and 2) be ignored if it does exist, because it is silly, just like aged laws requiring bathing suits for taking a bath. How is nanny-gambling prohibition constitutional?

For interest, in Korea you must show a passport when entering a casino. Why? Because native Koreans are not allowed to gamble. You must be a foreigner to get fleeced!

At what point ($ amount) does gambling at home become illegal?

that police force is operating an organized crime ring. they should be subject to RICO

Infuriating. The government has a nanny state attitude, and the weapons to be bullies. And keeping 40% of the players' money with charges dismissed sure sounds like a shakedown.