From the Associated Press-
A Republic man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to his role in a conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business by operating poker games in his home.
Federal prosecutors say Donald E. Bishop, 66, used his residence in Republic to operate a casino-style poker game.
According to a news release from the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Bishop operated two professionally-constructed poker tables, employed professional dealers and waitresses, and received payments (known in the industry as a rake) for each hand dealt.
The games played were usually Texas Hold’em or Omaha and required a $2 small blind and a $5 big blind. The house took a rake for each hand and dealt 15-20 hands an hour per table. Each table could accommodate 10 players and the games were scheduled Sunday through Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m. and sometimes lasting until the following morning, according to the news release.
On at least 14 occasions Bishop exchanged poker chips for cash in amounts up to $500 per transaction with a confidential informant and an undercover law enforcement officer in furtherance of the operation of the gambling business, according to the release.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of probation, according to the release.
