Police Investigate Granny’s Mahjong Game

Police in Altamonte Springs, Florida, got a hot tip about a possible gambling operation going on, and began an investigation. What they found was a bunch of grannies playing Mahjong, aka Mah-Jongg, in their condominium clubhouse. This is not a crime, as Florida has a specific provision allowing penny-ante games at home, and that law has a specific provision that includes condominium common-areas in the permissible playing area. There is a catch that these games cannot be advertised in any way, so the condo had to take down the fliers reminding everyone, but otherwise the games may go on.

This may be of little comfort to the senior citizens of Muncie, Indiana who had to stop playing for cash in their Euchre games earlier this year. That goes for any Florida Euchre players as well, as Euchre is not one of the permissible games under the penny-ante gambling exception in Florida.

The penny-ante games that are permitted in Florida are poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mahjong (mah-jongg, in the Florida statutes). The pot cannot exceed $10, there cannot be any entry fees (nor a rake), and no advertising. Sorry Euchre players.

The Euchre story: https://crimcourts.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/indiana-gaming-commission-cracks-down-on-euchre-game-at-a-senior-center/

Indiana Gaming Commission Cracks Down on Euchre Game at a Senior Center

Several Muncie, Indiana, senior citizens were shocked to learn they were being investigated by the state gaming commission for their regular card game. The Euchre games were being played for a couple of dollars each, and it was enough for authorities to contact the senior center and threaten action. The games will continue, but without pay-to-play or prizes being given out.

Once again, tax dollars were at work here. Fortunately, authorities had the good sense to resolve this with a phone call, and not a bunch of arrests. Even the governor has weighed in, asking for common sense to prevail in such investigations.

via Fox59 in Indiana, via NBC-2

Jockey Arrested for Shocking His Horse During Race

• Jockey Roman Chapa caught using a “Buzzer” during a horse race
• It’s an electronic stimulator to illegally encourage the horse
• He’s been in trouble for cheating multiple times, including similar use of an electronic device

Jockey Roman Chapa rode Quiet Acceleration to a photo-finish win in the Sam Houston stakes a few weeks ago. Now that photo may become his downfall. The picture clearly shows something in his hand: an electronic stimulator that he was probably using to shock the horse. They are known in the industry as a buzzer, battery or machine. And it turns out, Chapa has twice been suspended for cheating, and one of those incidents also involved a similar device.

Chapa is now facing felony charges for unlawful influence on racing. Texas considers it a serious offense to mess with the outcome of similar sporting events. Chapa also has a previous conviction for cruelty to animals. How was this guy still working? I suspect this will be the end of his career.

Thanks Beth for pointing this out!

Photo from Paulick Rerport: http://www.horsecollaborative.com/wp-content/uploads/Quiet-Acceleration-650×650.jpg