"This to me was never illegal," said the owner of Shooters Billiard Lounge at 7-2795 Pembina. He did not want to be identified as he has yet to speak to a lawyer. "My ignorance has caused me my own trouble."

"It was just so overdone," local poker player Travis Brown said. "There were 15 cop cars at Barca. The players now have been criminalized for doing nothing wrong."

Police said in most tournaments they're aware of, the "rake" was $5 per hand at about 40 hands an hour -- $200 going to the house.