A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for the armed robbery of a recent poker game in the Pali area of Hawaii. Honolulu police arrested the teen on Friday for first-degree robbery.
Three other suspects are also believed to have been part of the crime, but have yet to be apprehended. Police said the robbery took place on May 13 at about 10:40 p.m.
Officers said the men used firearms to demand property and cash from those attending the game. No one was injured in the crime, according to police. The game was described as a “social poker game” by police, not an underground club.
When it comes to gambling, Hawaii is one of the strictest states in the country. There are no legal options for casino gambling, and an online sports betting bill failed earlier this year.
Poker Games Are An Easy Target For Criminals
Because of access to cash, poker games have become common targets for criminals. Burglars targeted a Texas poker room in January. The suspects entered the venue in the early morning hours when the room was closed.
“The detective thinks that the guys were from out of town,” Johnny’s Social Card Club co-owner Brian Wessling told Card Player. “There was a pretty good amount of damage and they took cash from the ATM. It’s unfortunate that we had to learn the hard way, but we’ve beefed up security.”
In April 2024, two men also robbed a home game in Long Island, New York. The incident left one man with a gunshot and the suspects made off with cash, cell phones, and jewelry.
“As the men were exiting the house through a side door, they encountered a man who was about to enter the house,” police said. “The burglar with the handgun shot him twice.”
The same home game had also been robbed in 2010. The crimes point to the need for safety when playing poker or gambling at a casino. Just this month, two California men were arrested for targeting and ambushing more than a dozen winners at Los Angeles casinos.
