WELCOME!

To the Arizona Card Room, Inc

T

The Original Arizona Card Room at Bisbee, Arizona Opened in the Spring of 2006

****************************************************

PLEASE INVEST IN OUR

ICGPA LAWSUIT

For Police Harassment, Criminal Extortion, Fraud, and Theft!

VS.

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF GAMING AND THE CITY OF TUCSON

May 4, 2009

Tombstone, Arizona 

To all potential legal counsel or contributors to our cause,

The ICGPA will share up to fifty percent of the fruits of our lawsuit with any contributor or attorney that will take our case pro bono. 

The facts as we recall them:

At Bisbee, Arizona in May of 2005, several law abiding citizens of Cochise County, concerned with the growing perils to the millions of advocates of poker, formed a trade union: The Arizona Card League, Inc. They came together to protect the integrity of the sport and avocation of Poker. Our past and present membership (approx. 2000+) has included; a mayor, prosecutors, legislators, numerous police and enforcement authorities. We are very proud of our cronies and cohorts; including the Cochise County Attorney and the Arizona Attorney General; both of whom have repeatedly rejected ADOG’s numerous requests to prosecute our professional guild.

Since many of those original ACL members were past and present public officers, civil disobedience was not even contemplated, as a method to assert our rights. Having rejected civil disobedience, the ACL members (my cronies and cohorts) instead, chose to issue a direct challenge to the prevailing theories of law affecting the sport of Poker, in Arizona. No members of the ACL wanted to involve the police in our affairs, so we went directly to the State and County prosecutors and informed them of our plans. We assured them that we had no facts to dispute and that we would certainly honor any court order to cease and desist. Our conduct was clearly intended to handle any dispute (if one existed) in a civil and genteel manner; and not involve the police in our business.

Four years ago this month marks the fourth anniversary of our meeting with the prosecutors. Not at that time, nor at anytime since, have we ever been informed that state prosecutors disagree with our right to organize and self regulate the sport of poker. Therefore, there has never been a lawful reason for the Arizona Department of Gaming gambling police to leave the reservation and investigate our licensed businesses. No other police agency known to us, has found it necessary to invade our union, or to seek criminal charges against our conduct. While Tucson PD did participate in an ADOG instigated military raid on my former associates; it was clearly an ADOG union busting operation.

Since the valiant citizens of Bisbee had already stipulated to any facts necessary to launch our challenge, a police fact finding mission into our business was unnecessarily intrusive and violates several substantive rights and liberties of our members. ADOG’s numerous (and incessant) undercover operations against our union membership, are clearly police harassment and, an invasion of our privacy. Their bogus police raids and seizures have been a cover for their extortion against our union. ADOG’s confiscation of our membership lists is a clear theft and conversion of our property. Again, we must protest the conduct of this quasi policing agency, controlled, directed, and funded entirely by proceeds from the gambling industry.

This rogue agency has shown no compunction in ignoring all levels of prosecutorial consent or local licensing authority. The first ADOG self-initiated undercover operation was excusable as an inter-agency breakdown in communication. However, subsequent undercover forays and search warrants can only be viewed as intimidation and extortion. ADOG claims to be a public agency; but it has always had only one boss, the gambling industry. They have only one goal as well; to monopolize our profession for that industry. The Arizona Department of Gaming has been the muscle used to break our union and extort our players back into their gambling industry controlled poker rooms. In those rooms our prize pools are mauled and soiled by the house at their whim.

Damages and Costs:

All citizens of the State of Arizona have been damaged by this agency’s total disregard of the rights and liberties of our members. We have been thwarted in our attempts to address the concerns we have regarding their gambling industry operated professional arenas. As a direct result of the grossly improper conduct of this quasi policing agency; my cronies and cohorts (along with me personally) have suffered millions of dollars in actual (and potential) lost revenues.

ADOG has a long history of unbridled criminal attacks and public defamation against me and my cohorts, they have bankrupted me personally. Their illegal conduct has literally busted-up our union, since they stole our membership list during their theft at the Club Royale. Their public slander and libelous statements directed at me and my cohorts has also caused our business associates to disrespect us; some have ignored their agreements with the union and the ACR, Inc. We intend to beg enough money from our members (and any freedom fighters not already frightened away by these thugs) to bring a lawsuit against ADOG and their cronies and cohorts.

Any lost revenue recovered by a lawsuit will be used to grow our union, and to open safe and secure venues for our tens of thousands of fans and players within the State of Arizona. Any personal award I might receive will go towards opening our ICGPA Hall of Fame in Tombstone (the birthplace of High Stakes Poker). We intend to build a shrine to the gentleman sportsman and professional tradesman who have been plying their trade for centuries. Arizona will become that place in the World that honors and acknowledges all of those professional card and game players renowned throughout history.

Why would any responsible leader in Arizona oppose the International sport of poker, taking up residence in one of its oldest venues? We have always believed that we have the support of the state’s prosecutors. We know prosecutorial authorities in Arizona understand the difficulty of going to court with antiquated and inappropriate laws. Then there is the heavy baggage of the immoral gambling compact that was shoved down the throats of the tribes and the voters.

Being required to walk into court with these gambling industry collar men offers another good reason for the Attorney General’s staff to conclude there is no reasonable chance of obtaining a conviction against us. With their desks full of rejections from state prosecutors, and one month before our fourth birthday, the incoming ADOG Director publicly slanders us and threatens more police attacks. The arrogance displayed by this agency has become quite unsettling. The pedigree of the gambling industry is well known to us all, which increases our concern.

ADOG is totally unaffected by any of the decisions of local governments or state prosecutors. The Attorney Generals office, after a six month review of their previous decisions, announced that they will again not prosecute me or my “cronies and cohorts”. But, somehow we remain publicly branded criminals on the official ADOG website (funded entirely from gambling proceeds). ADOG must be restrained and they need to make a public apology to our union membership. We can then begin to repair the serious consequences of their actions.

ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE PUBLIC:

The criminal actions of the Arizona Department of Gaming have been very costly to all of us in the State. Especially the valiant citizens that stood together to protect their beloved sport of Poker. Many have become terrified and confused by these events. The real cost to the State of Arizona is the continued delay in taking advantage of our important historical relationship with the fastest growing, and most popular pastime, in the entire World. The ICGPA is attempting to bring the trade of poker back home to Tombstone Arizona; the birthplace of High Stakes Poker.

Perhaps the greatest cost (as usual) has been born by the Indians. Their name and resources were used by their lawyers and ADOG to fund a specious lawsuit, an action that can have little benefit other than to fatten the coffers of lawyers. Their lawyers have refused to allow us to make a reasonable proposal to the tribes that would provide a permanent income stream for them. Their obstructionist tactics have delayed the formation of our LLC joint venture proposal with members of the Pascua Yaqui business community; we call it the THEBIAS LLC.  

THEBIAS LLC PROPOSAL:

We believe the Pascua Yaqui Tribe has been unwittingly used in a scheme and subterfuge to bankrupt the Club Royle by ADOG and their lawyers; aided by others in the legal community as well. We will encourage them to turn the wasted legal expenses into programs that will develop continuing revenue streams for their community. We want all of the Tribes to share in the benefits of helping our International trade union find a home in the State of Arizona.

The first project, of this unique limited liability company, will be to build a professional arena for the Township of Guadalupe and, to share the profits with the town. The second is to open a similar facility for our membership in Tucson and, share the profits with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. THEBIAS will become a joint venture with business associates from the tribe and the mainstream business community; all attempting to develop an integrated business community.

Judge Harold Lee (Retired)

Executive Director

ICGPA

****************************************************

Compete in our ICGPA sanctioned arena at the

Ace High Arizona Card Room
Where the prize pool is sacred and the players control the game!
12751 W Bell Rd
Surprise, AZ 85374
(623) 251-4175

     ****************************************************
Contributions and donations are not tax deductable since some funds will be used to hire lobbyist to assist us in preparing legislation protecting the sport of poker. We will also be pursuing a declaratory action in the U.S. District Court; we have been quoted a price tag of $500,000 to initiate the action. If you are a true lover of freedom and self determination for adult citizens, please give generously

MAIL TO:

Legal Fund/ACR, Inc.

P.O. BOX 1754 Tombstone, AZ 85638-1704

****************************************************

What is the Arizona Card Room, Inc.?

The Arizona Card Room, Inc is the authorizing agent for their ACR System license/charter agreements. We are the exclusive provider of sanctioned arenas, rooms, and accessories for the ICGPA membership. Our venues and arenas will provide video surveillance of professional matches; safe and secure facilities, accessories, and a level playing field for our players and their fans.

****************************************************

International Card & Game Players Association

Protect the Sport of Poker

JOIN THE UNION!

Poker players, at all levels of competition, will no longer be shoved into insalubrious and unsavory venues; venues that endanger our lives and property. Those venues and rooms that continue to violate the integrity of our sport will face the power of competition from ICGPA sanctioned venues and arenas. Poker has clearly become a bona fide worldwide sport and strategic competition---we now require our own sanctioned venues. Poker does not belong in the gambling industry---it is a genuine member of the global sports and entertainment industry.

Henceforth; we will not only defend ourselves from false and unfounded claims, we will be fighting back. We are forming our own professional guild that will work to remove the unfair and improper treatment of our lawful strategic competition. Please print a copy of the ICGPA application on this site and join us, as we bring poker out of the garage, and into safe and fair venues for our players and fans. (Application and Creed)

****************************************************

The International Card & Game Players Association

Plea to the Gambling Industry:

Please, stop mauling our prize pools!

Your long time bad habit of raking money from our prize pools must stop. It is an unnecessary conversion of the property of the players. And, it has a negative affect on the integrity of the strategic contest. More to the point it meets all the elements of theft and conversion. In the past, the unsavory practice of raking has been permitted; because until now the players have never been allowed a voice to protest, or an alternative venue in which to play. That period of our history is over---the ICGPA will utilize the force of the World's most popular card game in defense of our game, the players, and our fans.

We hope everyone understands; we fully support and appreciate the State, County, and City prosecutors that have and are allowing our operations to continue unfettered. We totally concur in their decision that has allowed our organization to grow and flourish over the last three years. We feel that it is long past the time that the World renowned game of Poker be free to self regulate its affairs. Poker is an old and honorable profession that has found its rightful place within the sports and entertainment industry of the Twenty-first Century.

****************************************************

************************HOME**********************