Underground poker
Encyclopedia
Underground poker rooms are venues not operating in accordance with state gaming laws. They usually profit from offering side games such as blackjack
or craps
or (more often) collecting rake
, or both, while not being a licensed gaming operator.
. Two of these, the Diamond Club and the Mayfair Club
, were famous proving grounds for such now well-known poker players as Howard Lederer
, Erik Seidel
and Dan Harrington
. The New York Police Department, however, closed these clubs in the summer of 2000 during the Rudolph Giuliani administration’s law and order campaign.
, circa 2004, the most well-known clubs included Playstation near Union Square
and New York Players’ Club (NYPC) (sometimes referred to as 72nd Street) on the Upper West Side.
On May 26, 2005 New York City police raided and shut down numerous rooms, including Playstation and NYPC. Clubs that were not targeted then voluntarily closed their doors for some time in spring 2005, but were mostly reopened by that summer.
The reopened clubs began to draw some celebrity clientele, including Alex Rodriguez
of the New York Yankees
(who was officially reprimanded for playing in such clubs), and Robert Iler
(who was actually present for the October 23, 2005 bust of the club Ace Point at 328 E. 61st Street). Raids continued regularly throughout 2005, closing club such as Rounders on West 25th Street in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, and, after a series of busts and re-opens, the Brooklyn Players' Club in Park Slope area of Brooklyn.
Clubs generally continued throughout New York City during 2006 and into
2007, but seemed to the clientele to keep their size smaller to avoid the
attention that the larger clubs such as NYPC and Playstation brought.
However, robberies still remained common throughout 2007. This issue reached a crescendo when the City Limit, at 251 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, was robbed on 2007-11-02. Frank DeSena of Wayne, NJ was killed in an accidental weapons fire during the armed robbery.
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
or craps
Craps
Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other or a bank...
or (more often) collecting rake
Rake (poker)
Rake is the scaled commission fee taken by a cardroom operating a poker game. It is generally 5 to 10 percent of the pot in each poker hand, up to a predetermined maximum amount. There are also other non-percentage ways for a casino to take the rake. Some cardrooms will not take a percentage rake...
, or both, while not being a licensed gaming operator.
Historical New York clubs
Some of the longest operating underground clubs have been in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Two of these, the Diamond Club and the Mayfair Club
Mayfair Club
The Mayfair Club was a cardroom in New York. Originally starting as a bridge and backgammon club, it eventually became "the most touted card club in New York" until its abrupt closing by authorities in 2000." Unlike the other gamehalls in the city, The Mayfair Club kept a low profile in a basement...
, were famous proving grounds for such now well-known poker players as Howard Lederer
Howard Lederer
Howard Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S...
, Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title.In 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
and Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington is a professional poker player, best known for winning the main event world championship at the 1995 World Series of Poker. He has earned one World Poker Tour title, two WSOP bracelets, and over six million dollars in tournament cashes in his poker career...
. The New York Police Department, however, closed these clubs in the summer of 2000 during the Rudolph Giuliani administration’s law and order campaign.
Recent years
Underground poker nevertheless flourished in New York City after the Giuliani busts. In ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, circa 2004, the most well-known clubs included Playstation near Union Square
Union Square (New York City)
Union Square is a public square in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York.It is an important and historic intersection, located where Broadway and the former Bowery Road – now Fourth Avenue – came together in the early 19th century; its name celebrates neither the...
and New York Players’ Club (NYPC) (sometimes referred to as 72nd Street) on the Upper West Side.
On May 26, 2005 New York City police raided and shut down numerous rooms, including Playstation and NYPC. Clubs that were not targeted then voluntarily closed their doors for some time in spring 2005, but were mostly reopened by that summer.
The reopened clubs began to draw some celebrity clientele, including Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(who was officially reprimanded for playing in such clubs), and Robert Iler
Robert Iler
Robert Michael Iler is an American actor, known for his portrayal of A.J. Soprano on The Sopranos which aired on HBO from 1999-2007....
(who was actually present for the October 23, 2005 bust of the club Ace Point at 328 E. 61st Street). Raids continued regularly throughout 2005, closing club such as Rounders on West 25th Street in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, and, after a series of busts and re-opens, the Brooklyn Players' Club in Park Slope area of Brooklyn.
Clubs generally continued throughout New York City during 2006 and into
2007, but seemed to the clientele to keep their size smaller to avoid the
attention that the larger clubs such as NYPC and Playstation brought.
However, robberies still remained common throughout 2007. This issue reached a crescendo when the City Limit, at 251 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, was robbed on 2007-11-02. Frank DeSena of Wayne, NJ was killed in an accidental weapons fire during the armed robbery.