Pre 1900 Gambling equipment seized in Whitefish Montana

[Dave]

Give me a break!!!!

Some guy had a pre 1900 roulette wheel and some other antique gambling stuff in his antique store in Whitefish Montana and it all got seized by the state agents with the Department of Justice Gambling Control Division.

In addition to the Roulette table they seized two early 1900 punch boards, and a chuck-a-luck. They are coming back for some other stuff.

The article said the stuff might be destroyed, used for training, or given to a museum.

Used for training?????? What is there a gambling ring in Montana that is using early 1900 punchboards?

You would think law enforcement in MT would have better things to do like look for meth. labs.

Go to http://www.whitefishpilot.com/articles/2007/02/08/news/news01.txt if you want to read the article.

Dave

[Dave]

I did a little more checking on this story last night.

It sounds like the State DOJ agents were real jerks and they thought they were Rambo.

They tried to intimidate the antique store owner and told him he better not go to the press.

So, of course, he went to the press, and the story went national.

Lots of people poking fun at Montana and the Montana DOJ (which they deserved).

In any case, the Montana Senate rushed a bill through so it is now legal to own antique gambling stuff.

It looks like the guy will get all his stuff back.

One report says the locals in Whitefish are treating the store owner very well.