Bust of Bally's Evansville Pit Supervisor for Operating Underground Poker Game
A casino games manager at Bally's Evansville Casino, Ind., is in hot water for allegedly operating an underground poker room on the side.
Edward Hill, 53, was slapped with three felony charges on March 15 - corrupt business influence, illegal gambling, and promoting illegal gambling. These charges are linked to the operation of "Ed's Poker Club," which was hidden within an Evansville office building.
Hill had been hosting illicit poker games for quite some time. But his operation went into overdrive when Bally's closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a probable cause affidavit.
As a pit manager at Bally's, Hill knew a few gamblers whom he could invite to his secret games via text. He told the landlord of his rented property that he was running a temporary agency.
The Indiana Gaming Commission got wind of the setup after receiving a tip-off from an anonymous source, the affidavit reveals.
Poker Bust
After getting the tip, cops had the whistle-blower wear a wire and attend one of Ed's Poker Club games. He was given marked cash for buy-ins and recorded footage of Hill collecting money and interacting with players.
The unnamed informant managed to get poker chips with an "Ed's Poker Club" logo for investigators, which will be used as evidence.
When authorities raided the poker room, Hill opened the door. A game was in full swing, with 16 players battling it out on two tables. The players were questioned and let go, according to court records.
Also present was Tarkus Dillard, a dealer at Bally's, who isn't believed to have held a management position at the poker club. Another dealer, Mark Edge, 41, was missing during the raid. He was nabbed the next day, on March 16.
Edge is accused of being Hill's primary dealer, who sometimes handled the day-to-day management of the club. He's facing felony charges for his role in the operation.
Criminal Accusations
Investigators confiscated gaming equipment, records, and $9,240 in cash at the scene. They also took Hill's phone, with over 170,000 messages, many relating to the club's operations.
Hill told cops he made around $200 a night running the club. Edge pocketed a 25% share of the earnings, according to court documents. If found guilty, both men face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Bally's, previously known as the Tropicana Evansville, shuttered its doors at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. When it reopened three months later, the poker room remained closed.
Bally's Corporation bought the casino in June 2021 but hasn't reopened the poker room yet.
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