Montana Seizes 19th Century Roulette Wheel As Unlicensed Gambling Equipment

A roulette wheel from the 19th Century along with other antique gambling paraphernalia were confiscated by the Montana state agents from an antique store because it violated the state gambling law stating that it is not legal to own any unlicensed gambling equipment.

Ron Turner, the owner of the antique store Cowboy Cabin, said that some of the things that they sell in the store are already 100 years old or more. He further added that they are not gambling equipment because they are already considered a historical collection considering their age.

But those reasons failed to convince the three agents representing the state Department of Justice Gambling Control Division who have showed up at the Cowboy Cabin antique store last January 31, 2007. The state agents have confiscated two roulette wheels, two 20th century punch cards and a chuck-of-luck, which is a small hourglass cage which rotates the three dice inside it.

The state agents then marked the devices as evidence and said that they will return for the craps and blackjack table, a roulette table and a smaller craps table top which are all from the 19th century. Ron Turner said that all of the items are worth $77,000 dollars. The state has not yet filed any charges against Ron and his wife, Eila Turner, who have just recently settled into Whitefish from California, where they also have an antique business. The husband and wife team opened their Cowboy Cabin store December 2006.

The administrator of Montana's Gambling Control Division, Gene Huntington commented that the most could happen is that the couple will be charged for a misdemeanor because of possession of unlawful gambling equipment. He added that the confiscated items may be donated to a museum, destroyed or be used for training.

 

Thursday, April 30 , 2009