Anand Shah, an Indian-origin councilman in the U.S., is among 39 people charged with racketeering, money laundering, and other crimes for allegedly playing a role in an illegal gambling scheme that netted more than $3 million. Shah, 42, a Prospect Park, New Jersey, council member and a local business owner, has been charged along with others for racketeering, gambling offences, money laundering, and other crimes after law enforcement executed search warrants at 12 locations throughout North Jersey earlier this week. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The accused were allegedly managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese crime family, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on Friday. Among those charged is also Indian-origin Samir Nadkarni, 48, of Longwood, Florida, a sportsbook sub-agent/poker host.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/father-son-duo-among-3-killed-in-west-bengal-as-protest-against-new-waqf-law-turns-violent-8955166" rel="dofollow">3 killed in West Bengal as protests against Waqf law turn violent; Calcutta HC orders deployment of central forces</a> After a two-year probe into illegal gambling activities tied to the Lucchese crime family, searches were conducted on April 9 on four poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, including two clubs where backroom poker games were found hidden behind functioning restaurants; a business in Paterson storing gambling machines; and seven residences of individuals alleged to be managing the gambling activities. The investigation uncovered the involvement of dozens of individuals who allegedly hosted poker games and worked at the poker clubs and managed bettors on an illegal online sportsbook. The investigation resulted in the identification of more than $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
The officials uncovered that daily operations were handled by managers who would then report to their supervisors, and business fronts helped conceal the illegal gambling proceeds gained through the crimes via multiple shell companies and businesses.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ed-initiates-possession-of-over-76mn-assets-in-national-herald-money-laundering-case-8955050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ED initiates possession of over $76mn assets in National Herald money laundering case</a>
&ldquo;Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities, driving illegal gambling, money laundering, and racketeering operations that value profit over people,&rdquo; Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan said.
Each poker club was operated by high-level managers who delegated day-to-day operations to managers who were present during poker games. The online sportsbook was operated by &ldquo;agents&rdquo; who created accounts on sports gambling websites based in foreign countries.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/upi-services-face-third-outage-in-a-month-thousands-of-users-report-difficulties-8954608" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">UPI services face third outage in three weeks, thousands of users report difficulties</a> The high-level management took decisions, settled disputes, and used threats to collect overdue debts. &ldquo;The websites allowed traditional organised crime members and associates to use the internet and current technology to engage in the same criminal acts that traditional organised crime has engaged in since the 19th century,&rdquo; the statement said.

World: The accused were allegedly managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese crime family, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on Friday.

Anand Shah, an Indian-origin councilman in the U.S., is among 39 people charged with racketeering, money laundering, and other crimes for allegedly playing a role in an illegal gambling scheme that netted more than $3 million. Shah, 42, a Prospect Park, New Jersey, council member and a local business owner, has been charged along with others for racketeering, gambling offences, money laundering, and other crimes after law enforcement executed search warrants at 12 locations throughout North Jersey earlier this week. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison. The accused were allegedly managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese crime family, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on Friday. Among those charged is also Indian-origin Samir Nadkarni, 48, of Longwood, Florida, a sportsbook sub-agent/poker host. Also Read | 3 killed in West Bengal as protests against Waqf law turn violent; Calcutta HC orders deployment of central forces After a two-year probe into illegal gambling activities tied to the Lucchese crime family, searches were conducted on April 9 on four poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, including two clubs where backroom poker games were found hidden behind functioning restaurants; a business in Paterson storing gambling machines; and seven residences of individuals alleged to be managing the gambling activities. The investigation uncovered the involvement of dozens of individuals who allegedly hosted poker games and worked at the poker clubs and managed bettors on an illegal online sportsbook. The investigation resulted in the identification of more than $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds. The officials uncovered that daily operations were handled by managers who would then report to their supervisors, and business fronts helped conceal the illegal gambling proceeds gained through the crimes via multiple shell companies and businesses. Also Read | ED initiates possession of over $76mn assets in National Herald money laundering case “Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities, driving illegal gambling, money laundering, and racketeering operations that value profit over people,” Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan said. Each poker club was operated by high-level managers who delegated day-to-day operations to managers who were present during poker games. The online sportsbook was operated by “agents” who created accounts on sports gambling websites based in foreign countries. Also read | UPI services face third outage in three weeks, thousands of users report difficulties The high-level management took decisions, settled disputes, and used threats to collect overdue debts. “The websites allowed traditional organised crime members and associates to use the internet and current technology to engage in the same criminal acts that traditional organised crime has engaged in since the 19th century,” the statement said.

Indian-origin US politician Anand Shah charged with gambling offences, mafia links. Who is he?

Poker experts are claiming that the card game can help you perform better at work. They say some of the skills needed in Poker are also required in a professional environment. How true is that? Are good Poker players better employees?

Gravitas | Can poker help you become a better worker?

As Maria Kirloskar sits today, bespectacled, with her front locks coloured white, she exudes an aura of nonchalance, typical to that of professional poker players.&nbsp;

Like a hawk, she watches every move of her opponents, proceeding cautiously like a tigress out on the hunt. As a corporate-professional-turned-poker-pro, she spends nearly 30 hours a week indulging in her passion, grasping newer expertise and skill with every game, claiming to still have a long way to go. Read her story.&nbsp;

Humble beginnings

"When I first watched poker on TV in the US, I found it fascinating so a few years later when it was made&nbsp;accessible, I started to play and learn," says the 49-year&nbsp;old poker pro. However, simply winging it at informal shindigs isn't the same as becoming a poker pro. On her learning curve in poker, Maria added, "It was a long and slow process as nobody in my circle of friends or family knew how to play poker and we just winged it during our home games, learning how to play each other as we went along. When I decided that poker was my calling, I headed to play the big tournaments in Goa. That sort of ushered me into the world of real poker! I had to unlearn much of what I thought I knew and go back to learning the fundamentals."&nbsp;

On her journey

After getting her basics right, Maria finally gave professional poker a shot and joined PokerBaazi. "I started playing on PokerBaazi about 2 years ago and came 2nd in my very first PLO tournament! I consider myself extremely lucky to have been chosen by it to become one of their team pros alongside mentor Jasven Saigal, Vikram Kumar, Abhisek Panda and Abhishek Rathod. Each one of them have been extremely kind and helpful, teaching me the intricacies of poker and being the best support system I could ever ask for. I have also bothered and annoyed countless other friends to help me out with various poker concepts and strategies and they all have been gracious with their support. I'm truly grateful to know all these amazing people!"&nbsp;

She plays more than 30 hours a week and loves getting to know other players on her tables. Connecting with strangers on shared their passion creates opportunities for friendships to transpire. Besides, the emojis help relieve stress during stressful tournaments. She has also benefited from the tutorials available at the platform and says, "Yes, tutorials on PokerBaazi are great and have been insightful, as I'm always trying to learn how to improve my game."&nbsp;

"I recommend PokerBaazi to everyone as I believe it has something for everyone. It has freerolls, satellites, low buy-in tournaments for the smaller bankrolls; high-value deep structure tournaments with the toughest fields for the regulars; cash games across all stakes - and great promotions as well as tournaments series."&nbsp;

On being a poker pro &nbsp;

One would expect a poker player to be rolling in bundles of cash but Maria simply quashes such notions. When asked about earnings, she is quick to add, "Not enough! But I look at poker as a long-term endeavour and I know I will finally meet my extremely high standards and achieve my goals."

Giving up her established corporate career to pursue her passion inspired a mixed bag of reactions from friends and family. "Some people think it’s ultra-cool, others call it a risky business. But after 25 years of being in the corporate arena, I think it’s really up to me as to how I want to follow my passion. I believe poker is a sport and I do everything to approach the game as such."&nbsp;

On a parting note, she leaves a word of advice for poker novices. "Manage your bankroll well and if you love the game, try to learn the fundamentals so that you can be a long-term winner!"

As Maria Kirloskar sits today, bespectacled, with her front locks coloured white, she exudes an aura of nonchalance, typical to that of professional poker players.

As Maria Kirloskar sits today, bespectacled, with her front locks coloured white, she exudes an aura of nonchalance, typical to that of professional poker players. Like a hawk, she watches every move of her opponents, proceeding cautiously like a tigress out on the hunt. As a corporate-professional-turned-poker-pro, she spends nearly 30 hours a week indulging in her passion, grasping newer expertise and skill with every game, claiming to still have a long way to go. Read her story. Humble beginnings "When I first watched poker on TV in the US, I found it fascinating so a few years later when it was made accessible, I started to play and learn," says the 49-year old poker pro. However, simply winging it at informal shindigs isn't the same as becoming a poker pro. On her learning curve in poker, Maria added, "It was a long and slow process as nobody in my circle of friends or family knew how to play poker and we just winged it during our home games, learning how to play each other as we went along. When I decided that poker was my calling, I headed to play the big tournaments in Goa. That sort of ushered me into the world of real poker! I had to unlearn much of what I thought I knew and go back to learning the fundamentals." On her journey After getting her basics right, Maria finally gave professional poker a shot and joined PokerBaazi. "I started playing on PokerBaazi about 2 years ago and came 2nd in my very first PLO tournament! I consider myself extremely lucky to have been chosen by it to become one of their team pros alongside mentor Jasven Saigal, Vikram Kumar, Abhisek Panda and Abhishek Rathod. Each one of them have been extremely kind and helpful, teaching me the intricacies of poker and being the best support system I could ever ask for. I have also bothered and annoyed countless other friends to help me out with various poker concepts and strategies and they all have been gracious with their support. I'm truly grateful to know all these amazing people!" She plays more than 30 hours a week and loves getting to know other players on her tables. Connecting with strangers on shared their passion creates opportunities for friendships to transpire. Besides, the emojis help relieve stress during stressful tournaments. She has also benefited from the tutorials available at the platform and says, "Yes, tutorials on PokerBaazi are great and have been insightful, as I'm always trying to learn how to improve my game." "I recommend PokerBaazi to everyone as I believe it has something for everyone. It has freerolls, satellites, low buy-in tournaments for the smaller bankrolls; high-value deep structure tournaments with the toughest fields for the regulars; cash games across all stakes - and great promotions as well as tournaments series." On being a poker pro One would expect a poker player to be rolling in bundles of cash but Maria simply quashes such notions. When asked about earnings, she is quick to add, "Not enough! But I look at poker as a long-term endeavour and I know I will finally meet my extremely high standards and achieve my goals." Giving up her established corporate career to pursue her passion inspired a mixed bag of reactions from friends and family. "Some people think it’s ultra-cool, others call it a risky business. But after 25 years of being in the corporate arena, I think it’s really up to me as to how I want to follow my passion. I believe poker is a sport and I do everything to approach the game as such." On a parting note, she leaves a word of advice for poker novices. "Manage your bankroll well and if you love the game, try to learn the fundamentals so that you can be a long-term winner!"

What made a corporate professional to become a poker pro

Often being criticised, misunderstood, or simply put in the same box as gambling, the growth of poker in India has been fraught with several challenges. While the leading economies of the world have been cashing in on the growing popularity of this skill-based game, the attitudes and perceptions in India could use a little lift.

To the same end and to further help poker gain its due recognition and prominence in the industry, different celebrated sports personalities have, in the recent past, come up in the support of poker, appreciating the skill involved in the game.&nbsp;

Recently, poker found some support in India, in the words of the Chess maestro, Vishwanathan Anand. Confessing his admiration for the skill-based game, the Indian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion had drawn parallels between poker and chess.&nbsp;

Anand’s words of encouragement are also echoed in the sentiments shared by Vijender Singh. Winning the first-ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer, Vijender Singh has also been knocking out the regressive perceptions against poker.&nbsp;

In his support for the game, Vijender Singh said, “Poker is an interesting and gripping game, perhaps just like boxing. In fact, nobody is a born boxer and it is only after years of rigorous training and self-discipline, does one become excellent at it. Furthermore, when someone is in the ring, your individual skills alone will not guarantee success. The ability to read the moves of your opponent ahead of time or to gauge their strategy etc. governs the fate of the game. Same holds true for poker. As a mind game, poker players have to invest a lot of their time in deepening their understanding of the game. Furthermore, the outcome of the game is also determined by the ability of poker players to pre-empt the moves of their opponents and come up with the right strategy while the game is on.”

The celebrity endorsements have definitely helped different poker players in India push their cause in the country. The celebrity support only follows the legal sanction provided by the Supreme Court of India.&nbsp;

Back in the year 1996, the Apex Court had clearly distinguished between gambling and other games that involve skill. As per the Supreme Court of India, the games involving skills, including the card games like Rummy and Poker, don’t fall under the same ambits as gambling and hence, should be treated differently.

Skill-based games like poker, as per the Apex Court, don’t fall under the ambits of gambling and hence, are completely legal. With the legal sanction and a passionate community, poker as an industry has been growing in India. In fact, the present day start-up wave has only up the ante for poker. Poker start-ups in India are worth well over $120 million, only slated to grow in years to come.

Further support in the favour of poker, especially its online version came into force after the Nagaland Act of 2016. The Act further open doors for various newer format games to get licensed and have audiences participate in various games involving skill, such as Soduku, Poker, Fantasy sports and more.

The same has largely contributed towards the growth of poker in India. In this age of digitisation, the game has found an easier way to reach out to users, with its online variant.&nbsp;

In fact, the poker start-ups in India are worth over $120 million. Online poker platforms, such as PokerBaazi, make it easy for the Indian poker enthusiasts to connect with like-minded people and enjoy their favourite action-packed game, online.&nbsp;

In addition to helping users monetise their poker skills online, the platform also takes care of the overall experience. It provides a number of online resources, webinars and videos of poker pros, to help poker amateurs up their game and graduate to the level of poker pros, along with adding a stream of revenue.&nbsp;

In addition, the platform pays complete heed to the states that don’t permit monetary stakes in gaming. To the same end, residents Assam, Orissa, Gujarat and Telangana are not eligible to game earnings at PokerBaazi, and verification is done through Aadhaar authentication.

These have been some of the key aspects that drew Vijender Singh to the platform, as its brand ambassador. He further adds, “PokerBaazi, as India’s most trusted online poker platform, helps poker aspirants up their game, by providing tutorials and webinars, where they can learn the best strategies of poker pros.&nbsp;

As a platform, PokerBaazi is dedicated to not only promote the game but also the skill and it gives me immense happiness to be associated with the same.”

Often being criticised, misunderstood, or simply put in the same box as gambling, the growth of poker in India has been fraught with several challenges. While the leading economies of the world have been cashing in on the growing popularity of this skill-based game, the attitudes and perceptions in India could use a little lift.

Often being criticised, misunderstood, or simply put in the same box as gambling, the growth of poker in India has been fraught with several challenges. While the leading economies of the world have been cashing in on the growing popularity of this skill-based game, the attitudes and perceptions in India could use a little lift. To the same end and to further help poker gain its due recognition and prominence in the industry, different celebrated sports personalities have, in the recent past, come up in the support of poker, appreciating the skill involved in the game. Recently, poker found some support in India, in the words of the Chess maestro, Vishwanathan Anand. Confessing his admiration for the skill-based game, the Indian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion had drawn parallels between poker and chess. Anand’s words of encouragement are also echoed in the sentiments shared by Vijender Singh. Winning the first-ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer, Vijender Singh has also been knocking out the regressive perceptions against poker. In his support for the game, Vijender Singh said, “Poker is an interesting and gripping game, perhaps just like boxing. In fact, nobody is a born boxer and it is only after years of rigorous training and self-discipline, does one become excellent at it. Furthermore, when someone is in the ring, your individual skills alone will not guarantee success. The ability to read the moves of your opponent ahead of time or to gauge their strategy etc. governs the fate of the game. Same holds true for poker. As a mind game, poker players have to invest a lot of their time in deepening their understanding of the game. Furthermore, the outcome of the game is also determined by the ability of poker players to pre-empt the moves of their opponents and come up with the right strategy while the game is on.” The celebrity endorsements have definitely helped different poker players in India push their cause in the country. The celebrity support only follows the legal sanction provided by the Supreme Court of India. Back in the year 1996, the Apex Court had clearly distinguished between gambling and other games that involve skill. As per the Supreme Court of India, the games involving skills, including the card games like Rummy and Poker, don’t fall under the same ambits as gambling and hence, should be treated differently. Skill-based games like poker, as per the Apex Court, don’t fall under the ambits of gambling and hence, are completely legal. With the legal sanction and a passionate community, poker as an industry has been growing in India. In fact, the present day start-up wave has only up the ante for poker. Poker start-ups in India are worth well over $120 million, only slated to grow in years to come. Further support in the favour of poker, especially its online version came into force after the Nagaland Act of 2016. The Act further open doors for various newer format games to get licensed and have audiences participate in various games involving skill, such as Soduku, Poker, Fantasy sports and more. The same has largely contributed towards the growth of poker in India. In this age of digitisation, the game has found an easier way to reach out to users, with its online variant. In fact, the poker start-ups in India are worth over $120 million. Online poker platforms, such as PokerBaazi, make it easy for the Indian poker enthusiasts to connect with like-minded people and enjoy their favourite action-packed game, online. In addition to helping users monetise their poker skills online, the platform also takes care of the overall experience. It provides a number of online resources, webinars and videos of poker pros, to help poker amateurs up their game and graduate to the level of poker pros, along with adding a stream of revenue. In addition, the platform pays complete heed to the states that don’t permit monetary stakes in gaming. To the same end, residents Assam, Orissa, Gujarat and Telangana are not eligible to game earnings at PokerBaazi, and verification is done through Aadhaar authentication. These have been some of the key aspects that drew Vijender Singh to the platform, as its brand ambassador. He further adds, “PokerBaazi, as India’s most trusted online poker platform, helps poker aspirants up their game, by providing tutorials and webinars, where they can learn the best strategies of poker pros. As a platform, PokerBaazi is dedicated to not only promote the game but also the skill and it gives me immense happiness to be associated with the same.”

Olympic winner Vijender Singh vouches for Poker

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