Operators of Non Profit Gambling Operation Face Felony Charges

Parnell Poker Palace is a charity gambling casino located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that has been operating since December 2008. The casino offered blackjack, poker, dice games and roulette to raise money for the nonprofit organization White’s School of the Arts Community Development Programs. The casino has been under investigation for over a year now by the Indiana Gaming Commission and now charges have been filed.

The casino has been shut down since their operators were accused of corrupt business influence, unlawful charity gaming contracting, theft and professional gambling. The Commission finally had enough evidence to charge the owner George Kotsopoulos, his business partner Edward R. Miers and the three men who operated the business, Ralph T. White, Larry L. York and Charles I. Keller.

It has been alleged that not all of the funds raised were going to the charity program the casino said they were servicing. Larry Rollins, who is with the Commission, stated that when people start to make a profit for themselves by conducting charity events that is when they have crossed the line.

The casino first came under suspicion when the commission learned that the dealers were receiving under the table payments instead of being just volunteers. The casino came under even more suspicion when Ralph T. White deposited Poker Palace money into a Wells Fargo Bank account under his own name. the money was supposed to be deposited at the Salin Bank under the name White’s School of Arts.

The case is continuing to unfold as more details are emerging. It has also been stated that Kotsopoulos has been pocketing $20,000 a month in rent rather than the $2,400 that was claimed by the casino.

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