Three clubs, tavern cited for alleged Derby Day gambling

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Another Day, Another Dollar
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courier-journal.com


State tax police raided a tavern and three fraternal clubs in Jeffersonville and New Albany on Saturday and -- in no real surprise to the officers -- found what seemed to be illegal gambling at each place.

It was, after all, Derby Day.

"They were taking horse bets like you would at the track" at three of the establishments, said Lt. Kenneth Murphy, a spokesman for the Indiana State Excise Police in Seymour.

The excise police haven't made raids before on the day of the Kentucky Derby, Murphy said. They were tipped to the possibility of illegal gambling in the region after visiting a bar soon after the race last year and finding evidence of illegal wagering on horses, Murphy said.

Because only six excise officers were available on Derby Day, Murphy said, they raided only four establishments. He said he thinks gambling could have been found at many other places in Southern Indiana.

"I don't think we even hit the tip of the iceberg," Murphy said. "I think it's culturally accepted."

But it isn't legal.

Murphy said each of the establishments has been cited on one count of a public nuisance to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, which can levy fines of up to $1,000 or suspend or revoke licenses to sell alcoholic beverages.

He also will file reports with Clark County Prosecutor Steve Stewart about the alleged activities of three or four people, and this could lead to charges of illegal professional gambling or encouraging professional gambling, Murphy said. Those are Class D felonies.

It would be up to Stewart to decide whether to prosecute.

The reports will focus on those allegedly taking bets, Murphy said, not those who might have been placing bets.

The officers confiscated a total of $5,400 in cash, Murphy said. They also seized 10 electronic poker machines at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3281 at 232 E. 5th Street in New Albany but didn't observe gambling on horses there, Murphy said.

The other three locations, all in Jeffersonville and cited as being public nuisances, are:

Double T Tavern, 830 E. 10th St.

Fraternal Order of Eagles Club 1527, 113 W. Maple St.

American Legion Post 35, 217 W. Court Ave.

Employees who answered the telephone at each establishment declined to comment and said officials of the organizations who could comment weren't available.

Murphy said he doesn't know why patrons of the tavern and clubs raided Saturday would rather gamble illegally than bet at legal locations.

The Churchill Downs television signal isn't available to the Indiana Downs off-track-betting parlor in Clarksville, so those interested in betting on the Derby couldn't do so there.

Murphy said he expects to make more raids next Derby Day, with more officers.
 

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