[pili]

My husband and a friend stopped at Havana CC for drinks on Tuesday night. It was around 8:30pm and they were asked if they were there for poker night. They were told Havana stays open till midnight on Tuesday for poker games. Shortly after a group of "very unsavory looking young people" started arriving. My neighbor said they looked like they belonged in a gang and could be under age. This is very disturbing since this is not the type of atmosphere we expect at our restaurants nor do we want to see youngsters who definitely do not belong in The Villages. Was this about gambling at a country club restaurant? Has anyone heard about this?

[Skip]

Yup! Texas Hold 'em is played at quite a few restaurants in The Villages on different nights, for many months now. They have a way around the gambling laws in Florida, so it's legal. The leases on those restaurants don't cover that activity either. The restaurants sell food and drink into the wee hours.

"Win-win-win!" (sorta like "Drill-drill-drill!")

Skip

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Skip

Yup! Texas Hold 'em is played at quite a few restaurants in The Villages on different nights, for many months now. They have a way around the gambling laws in Florida, so it's legal. The leases on those restaurants don't cover that activity either. The restaurants sell food and drink into the wee hours.

"Win-win-win!" (sorta like "Drill-drill-drill!")

Skip

Only in Florida. Won't need those destination casinos in South Florida.....we can gamble right here.

[graciegirl]

If people like to gamble they will really like this. I don't know why I don't like to gamble. I think it is because I don't like to lose money on anything. The thought of winning never enters my mind...plus I take thrifty to a new level. Some call me tight.


I don't like to hear that unsavory younger people are comin' in.


If we were all alike they would only sell vanilla ice cream.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If people like to gamble they will really like this. I don't know why I don't like to gamble. I think it is because I don't like to lose money on anything. The thought of winning never enters my mind...plus I take thrifty to a new level. Some call me tight.


I don't like to hear that unsavory younger people are comin' in.

If we were all alike they would only sell vanilla ice cream.

But Gracie, they are bringing $'s.

[PennBF]

It may be that the restaurants do not demand either a residents pass or a visitors pass in order to use the facilities and therefore anyone can come in and somehow play Texas Holdem? In the Recreation Centers or Country Clubs the players must show an ID either at the door or one of the employee's will visit the room before a game is started and ask all for ID's. There are vey few "unsavory characters" and 99.9% are fine people. As I understand the law the restaurants would be running a high risk by allowing the practice since there are Florida laws governing the betting in games, (I think Bingo is the only game that gets a pass on the rules.) Why would they risk losing their licence by allowing gambling if it is not strictly controlled. My guess is that someone will ultimately report it to the state and they will be interested in the controls and limits, control of limits, etc.etc.

[Skip]

It's not "gambling" as defined by Florida statutes. The operators have convinced the restaurant owners they are in no violation of state laws.

Skip

[Bogie Shooter]

Why are there two threads on the same topic??? Modies please fix.