Well, I own a sports bar and restaurant in the Inland Empire in Sunny Southern CA.
For the last few years or so, Iv had a small group of guys who place bets with me, Nothing significant at all, all small time and Id take the action as more of a challenge than an actual bookmaking operation.
One of these guys is a police officer, no biggie, a miopic raiderfan who thought his team would win straight up as a dog every time they played, and he would risk no more than 40 dollars.
Last October I wanted one of my cooks gone but felt he didnt deserve to get unemployment for the shitty things his wife had to say about my place via facebook, so I cut his hours to 6 hours a week until he quit.
So in November I get these two guys who start coming in everyday, for the entire month of November and December they never placed a bet NOR DID I EVER SOLICET THEM OR anyone else to ever place a wager.
In January the one dude asked me if those were betting lines Im always looking at, I said yes, He asked, what is the line on the 49ers and Giants I said 49ers -2
He asked me if he could place a bet and if he knew anyone who would take a bet on the game, I said how much?
He said 100, I said Joe you are a pretty good customer I dont want to lose your business if you lose a bet or anything, He said you wont, I said alright 49ers -2 110 to win 100, If you win come by monday and Ill pay you, If you lose just take care of it next time you come in.
He lost and payed on Monday
then he played the Giants for 100 +2.5 for the superbowl
He won, I paid
3 weeks ago he bet Long Beach st +4.5 and W-Virginia +1 for 100 each and lost
Came in and payed, I offered them a free meal, they said cant right now, next time, I said sure.
Last week Friday 11:00 AM I have 15 cops at my door at my friggen home and around 20 at my restaraunt serving a search warrant, I was like what the f*ck?
My wife and 3 year old had to wait outside in the cold as well as myself with no socks or shoes, My father at the restaurant was subjected to a frisk, he is 72 years old, all my staff was subject to a search.
they took my register money which was 450 dollars and my fathers cash and money orders totaling 2350 dollars, they let me keep the 780 I had on me.
They flipped my house upside down and didnt allow me to serve one customer for 3 hours at work.
To there credit, they were very respectfull, they were just doing there job, they didnt break anything, they were polite and cordial.
Finally Joe walks in and says
THIS ONE DOESNT FEEL GOOD.
I was like dude, you couldve just asked me for the 220 dollars back.
they informed me this wasnt really about me, but they got word that there was a police officer in uniform placing bets, and they want to know who he is.
Bear in mind, the search warrent stated that they had the right to cease my bank accounts and shut down my business.
After being assured that if it was indeed only 40 dollar bets, all he would get is a slap on the wrist, I said okay and named him.
so far the District attorney hasnt contacted me regarding anything, they returned my laptop last week monday and 2000
they still owe me 700
the police officer only got a 3 day suspension.
I find out today it was my former cook who dimed me out, he is now living in birmingham mich where I still have a million friends and family.
If I wanted to I could exact some street justice with one phonecall, but Im not that guy anymore.
the moral of this true story is taking a few bets in a freindly enviroment may get you in deeper water than you could ever dream of.
My only remaining fear is the D.A. may come after me because of the amount of money that was spent doing an investigation that yeilded basicly nothing, they could try and get some of that money back that were wasted doing this ridiculous investigation.