On Super Bowl Sunday--Gambling Busts

By Eyewitness News' Lucy Yang (New York-WABC, February 6, 2005) — As football fans place bets on tonight's Super Bowl, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and the Brooklyn district attorney announce a score of their own today. They busted nine illegal gambling locations, from Brooklyn to Staten Island. Eyewitness News reporter Lucy Yang has the story. Super Bowl Sunday is not just one of the biggest sports days--it is the biggest gambling day in the country. It's estimated $5 billion is placed on the game tonight. Problem is, here in New York, sports betting is illegal. These are the gambling slips. These are the stacks of cash which will not see the winners' hands tonight. This after officials arrested a dozen men in nine locations, accusing them of running illegal gambling rings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes says underground sports betting is a $15 billion problem in New York. With that kind of profit motive, some of the alleged bookies are beginning to look familiar to the authorities. Charles Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney: "Alexander Noche, when we raided his place, he had one gambling slip. Which is a midemeanor. He said us, 'hey--you didn't think I knew you were coming this year?!'" Called operation King's Flush, most of the raids took place in private homes or apartments. Officials defend the manpower they spend going after bookies, claiming these men are not just indulging the public's appetite for an innocent little wager on the games. Daniel Donovan, Staten Island District Attorney: "The proceeds from this fuel other illegal activities and acts of organized crime. Therefore, they're not victimless." The big difference between a bookie and an office pool: A bookie skims his profits off the wager, which makes it illegal. In an office pool, all the money bet is paid off. No one takes a cut, which means it's fair game. D.A. Hynes believes the best way to crack down on Super Bowl bookies is to make sports betting legal here in New York, and to tax the billion-dollar industry.