A number of underground New York poker clubs have decided to close their doors following a report that Yankees star and avid poker player Alex Rodriguez is in hot water with his team and Major League Baseball (MLB) over his poker-playing habits. The New York Daily News published the report, which was then republished and quoted by dozens of media outlets.

Widespread coverage by mainstream media isn't exactly the best thing for poker dens operating on the sly, and the unwanted attention convinced several clubs to fold. And it's not just paranoia kicking in; there is a precedent to qualify such action. A downtown club was raiding by police in mid-October shortly after “A-Rod" was sighted there hanging out with poker pro Phil Hellmuth. In the weeks that followed the bust, NYPD raided five more clubs, a hefty percentage of New York's underground poker scene.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Saturday, 05 November 2005