May 28, 2005 -- Vice-squad cops flushed out a full house of high-stakes gamblers at two secret upscale poker clubs that catered to pro gamblers, power brokers and celebrities alike, nabbing 39 employees on illegal gambling charges and sending dozens of card sharks home with empty pockets, police said yesterday.
Cops raided both The Playstation in Union Square and the New York Players Club on the Upper West Side simultaneously Thursday night, seizing approximately $100,000 in cash, according to Lt. Pasquale Morena, commander of the vice squad's special investigation team.

At the time of raids, there were roughly 120 card players huddled around a dozen tables at each club, Morena said. All were let go, after cops ran their names to check for outstanding warrants, but were stuck with pocketfuls of now-worthless chips.

One high-stakes gambler, who goes by the name "Persian Steve," told cops, "Nice timing, fellas," as he left $7,000 in chips on the table, a source said.

Morena said most of the card sharks seemed relieved they were raided by cops and not a stickup gang.

"I heard the players were saying, 'We're lucky it was the cops.' They thought they were getting robbed," he said.

The raid deals a body blow to the poker scene, which has soared in popularity in recent years. High-stakes tournaments, featuring top card sharks and well-heeled celebrities, are frequently broadcast on television, and illegal clubs have popped up all over the city.

"What makes it appealing to a lot of people is why go to Atlantic City when it's right here," Morena said. "It's a matter of convenience."

The 39 club employees — managers, dealers and runners — were charged with promoting gambling and possession of gambling equipment.

Morena said The Playstation, which has been open since 1999, and the Players Club, which has been in business for about a year, were the two biggest operations in the city and are owned by the same people. He declined to identify them, however, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Each card den, located on the second floor — one above an OTB and the other above a gym — featured popular games like Texas hold 'em and Omaha, and raked in as much $30,000 every night.

Although no alcohol was served, the Players Club offered valet parking and massages for players with sore shoulders. The dealers, who worked for tips, had medical benefits, and both clubs featured chips with logos emblazoned on them.

"Other casinos have been taken down, but not recently and not of this magnitude," Morena said.