Matterhorn Social Club was raided

[Brent_in_Aurora]

According to a RMN article today. The details on what was going on there were sketchy, but they centered on gambling. Does anyone have other information? I have never been there, but I am curious.

[Rick]

Here is the article. Good thing they sent in SWAT. Never can tell when you will find a loaded poker chip. :rolleyes:

Police raid social club, arrest 36
Gambling suspected, drugs found, cops say

Police busted a suspected gambling club Tuesday in northwest Denver that neighbors say has been operating for nine years.
SWAT teams and officers arrested 36 people when they stormed the Matterhorn Social Club at 3918 Tennyson St. in the Highland neighborhood around 10:30 p.m., said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.

In addition to people playing poker, authorities found a large amount of cocaine, $10,000 in cash and a minor in the club, Jackson said.

Most of the arrests were on gambling-related charges, but three people were arrested on outstanding warrants. Drug charges are pending, said Jackson.

The club, which has no signs on the outside, is in a strip of businesses that include an insurance company, a real estate company and a nut and fruit shop.

On Wednesday, a piece of paper with the hand-lettered words "Closed for repair" was posted on the club's front door.

The owner, Greg Jensen, of Wheat Ridge, could not be reached for comment.

Local business owners said flashy cars frequently lined Tennyson Street outside the Matterhorn on Tuesday nights. They said many of the customers were wealthy older men and pretty girls.

"After people parked, they made a beeline to the door," said Jeannie Summers, who works for a tattoo business across the street from the club. "I guess they're too bored to drive up the mountains to gamble."

Neighbors said the owner of the club recently passed a petition around the area to turn the Matterhorn into a strip club.

The club has an after-hours social room license, said Stephanie O'Malley, director of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses. The Matterhorn is allowed to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m., and alcohol cannot be served, O'Malley said.

Merchants in the neighborhood have long felt there was something fishy going on at the Matterhorn Club, said Erik Rieger, who co-owns Lapis Gallery, which is several stores north of the Matterhorn.

"It's been a running joke around here," said Rieger, who thought the club was either a brothel or a gambling ring.

"It's very obvious when you see the same people who entered the club at night and they're coming out of the club at 8 a.m. the next day. Anybody who's been here can tell."

[tjholdem]

It was just a matter of time. I am surprised that there wer not any weapons found in the club. It will be interesting to follow this one.

[pseudoswede]

It was just a matter of time. I am surprised that there wer not any weapons found in the club. It will be interesting to follow this one.
Nor were there any solicitation/prostitution charges.

[A-M-C]

It's comments like this and people like this that aggrevate me. Neither of you have ever been to the Matterhorn so why would you make rediculous comments like this? You will gladly spend your money playing online and line the pockets of some fat ******* that lives over seas where you get absolutely nothing in return. The Matterhorn was a SOCIAL CLUB not just a place to play poker. They had various golf leagues and many other activities. I unfortunately was one of the people playing when it got raided and I don't think we were doing anything wrong for christ sake we were only playing a tournament. "The real bad beat is I was one of the chip leaders".... Some of the cops that were filling out all the paperwork after the SWAT team left where talking about how they had played there before!!!!!! Yes there were drugs found they came out of a kids pocket when he **** his pants after the broke in the front door. Would I go there and play again if they opened up.... Yes I would!!!!!! Although having a M16 shoved in my face for playing poker was bull****. Also there were only 3 arrest no one else was arrested. We were citted for Gambling which is a petty offence that will not even show up on our record.


Nor were there any solicitation/prostitution charges.

It was just a matter of time. I am surprised that there wer not any weapons found in the club. It will be interesting to follow this one.

[Brent_in_Aurora]

I am sorry that you were caught up in this. You are the victim here. Hopefully, the ramifications of this will be minimal. The larger question is why the law makes this illegal, so long as the game itself was legitimate.

What was the structure of the club in general and in the form of tourney fees or rake? How large of a group is it? What do you think is going to happen in the short term? My understanding of the club was that it was a social club first, with the poker as a small part. One needed to be invited by a member in order to go to the club.

Why play online? One of the reasons is not to go through what you experienced. Is online inherently better? Heck no.

Now, there are poker games at all of the private country clubs. Have they been raided? I don't think so. Doesn't the Denver Press Club have a 5/10 game?

[coloradomrg]

You are the victim here.

No.... he is not. He is trying to act like one, and definetly has the mentality.

While this shouldn't be Denver's top priority for law enforcement action, it was still ILLEGAL activity. I don't think that poker games should be an issue, but obviously this one was bringing about an element beyond just poker.

I can't stand people who are willing do something illegal, knowing full well that there are going to be consequences if caught, then cry foul when that time comes.

If you don't agree with the current laws, get off your poker chair in the shady club and do something about it. Trying to make a law go away by ignoring it will never work. It just gets you put in the spot that you all ended up in.

[pseudoswede]

Well said, mrg.


It was just a matter of time. I am surprised that there wer not any weapons found in the club.
I dunno, but statements like this sure sounds like that there was a lot more stuff than illegal gambling going on in there. I also think that the "pretty girls" (as witnessed by neighboring businesses) entering the club weren't there to play cards (perhaps, er, a different type of "poker").

Needless to say, I usually like to avoid shady operations like these.

[Brent_in_Aurora]

The reason that shady games like this exist is due to the laws. Rather than allow card rooms to operate, they are forced underground. I have no idea what goes on at these operations.

What are the respective governor candidate's positions of the indian gaming proposal near DIA? Owens shot it down.

[pseudoswede]

What are the respective governor candidate's positions of the indian gaming proposal near DIA? Owens shot it down.
I'm sure the powers-that-be in Blackhawk/Central City have already given enough "support" to both candidates so that the only thing that will be built by DIA will be more houses.

[A-M-C]

First of all I am not claiming to be a victim here. I know what I was doing was illegal. I DON'T CARE. I will go pay my stupid fine that has the equivilent of Jaywalking and be on with it. I am just considering it it and have already recorded it as a loosing session. Second of all Swede I just copied that line from an earlier post because I thought it was bull**** in no way shape or form did it come out of my mouth. As far as the coments of Old rich men and young pretty girls. I am neither old or rich, and I can think of maybe two or three members who were young pretty girls. That just goes back to not beleiving everything you hear. and Swede you don't avoid places like these they avoid people like you!!! The last thing I am going to say on this is that the Matterhorn was busted for poker reasons just like the three clubs earlier this year. To assume there was something other than that going on and that is why they were busted is ignorant.

And by the way if they were to try and pass something allowing and Reservation casino by DIA I would vote no in a Heart Beat. The last thing I want to do is give the Indians more damn money tax free!

Well said, mrg.


I dunno, but statements like this sure sounds like that there was a lot more stuff than illegal gambling going on in there. I also think that the "pretty girls" (as witnessed by neighboring businesses) entering the club weren't there to play cards (perhaps, er, a different type of "poker").

Needless to say, I usually like to avoid shady operations like these.

[LobsterTrap]

I also think that the "pretty girls" (as witnessed by neighboring businesses) entering the club weren't there to play cards (perhaps, er, a different type of "poker").

Needless to say, I usually like to avoid shady operations like these.

I guess I shouldn't blame any of the posters on this thread since the news article makes the Matterhorn seem like such a shady operation and high profile bust but since I am a member and I was unfortunately there Tuesday night I would like to set a couple things straight. First off I'm not sure what club the reporter was talking about because it isn't the Matterhorn. If any of you know where this club is I would like to know since it sounds like a sweet setup and "pretty girls" are always a welcome addition to a poker game :) The first few paragraphs of the article report facts but the 2nd half of the article reports neighborhood gossip as though it were fact. It just seems totally irresponsible for a news reporter to quote neighbors who do not have factual knowledge of the topic. Printing this gossip misleads readers into thinking that the gossip is fact and I consider this irresponsible journalism. I understand there were laws broken and I understand there is accountability for action; however, I am of the opinion that tax dollars could be better spent addressing more serious crimes. I equate playing poker to speeding (which I would like to differentiate from wreckless driving); technically illegal but in the grand scheme of things very benign. Anyway I don't want to start a flame war but I think people should try to understand the facts before jumping to conclusions about the activity at the Matterhorn.

[ctswpt76]

...is ignorant.

And by the way if they were to try and pass something allowing and Reservation casino by DIA I would vote no in a Heart Beat. The last thing I want to do is give the Indians more damn money tax free!

Wow.............

[loomisdl]

I've never been to one of these clubs. I thought that they, at least some of them, were legal. Guess not.

And WOW to what AMC said as well.....

[Brent_in_Aurora]

It will be the tourists who will pay. Putting the casino near DIA will give them reason to stop to and from the airport. I am all for it. The mountain casinos are a joke for all kinds of reasons. We can disagree about the need for the indian casino, but paying rake for a legitimate, well run operation is something that I would definitely support. Screw Owen and the political interests of the mountain casinos. They have ruined those towns, anyway.

[A-M-C]

Oh boy now I sound like a racist huh.... All I am saying that there is a reason Foxwoods in the biggest Casino in the world and it's because they get away without paying billions are year in Taxes.


Wow.............

[A-M-C]

What table were you at?


I guess I shouldn't blame any of the posters on this thread since the news article makes the Matterhorn seem like such a shady operation and high profile bust but since I am a member and I was unfortunately there Tuesday night I would like to set a couple things straight. First off I'm not sure what club the reporter was talking about because it isn't the Matterhorn. If any of you know where this club is I would like to know since it sounds like a sweet setup and "pretty girls" are always a welcome addition to a poker game :) The first few paragraphs of the article report facts but the 2nd half of the article reports neighborhood gossip as though it were fact. It just seems totally irresponsible for a news reporter to quote neighbors who do not have factual knowledge of the topic. Printing this gossip misleads readers into thinking that the gossip is fact and I consider this irresponsible journalism. I understand there were laws broken and I understand there is accountability for action; however, I am of the opinion that tax dollars could be better spent addressing more serious crimes. I equate playing poker to speeding (which I would like to differentiate from wreckless driving); technically illegal but in the grand scheme of things very benign. Anyway I don't want to start a flame war but I think people should try to understand the facts before jumping to conclusions about the activity at the Matterhorn.

[Timmay]

The reason that shady games like this exist is due to the laws. Rather than allow card rooms to operate, they are forced underground. .

Classic...just like saying the only reason drug dealers and crack houses exist is due to the laws. Rather than allowing the coke to flow freely, they are forced underground.

It is so common to hear the arguemnt "Yeah, I was wrong, but shouldn't the cops have something more important to do?" Well, guess what, it just so happens that night they didn't. Sorry, that arguement is simply an admission you don't have a real argument to make.

[koop]

Never played there but drive by it all the time. I think the "flashiest" car I've ever seen parked in front was a Lincoln. I'm not sure how it is any different than a home game. My understanding is that it is a legit social club and the members know each other outside of poker. Like someone else said they have golf tourneys and such. I live in the neighborhood and the place is by no means "shady" or "seedy."

[A-M-C]

Koop, it is great to see someone that doesn't just judge a place by what they hear in the news. People like these will never have to worry about it because they will never be invited. Until Colorado legalizes poker like California these are our only choice to get away from the Asian Bingo up the hill.

[Brent_in_Aurora]

I am consistent.

I would rather see drug and prostitution laws eliminated, too. There is a lot of government effort and expense trying to stamp out these vices, which is pointless in my mind.

[Brent_in_Aurora]

Oh boy now I sound like a racist huh.... All I am saying that there is a reason Foxwoods in the biggest Casino in the world and it's because they get away without paying billions are year in Taxes.

They pay taxes. I don't know offhand what taxes they pay, but there is also the multiplier effect for the people that work there, etc. Here is a source: http://www.umassd.edu/cfpa/docs/gaming_update2006.pdf#search=%22New%20England%20Ca sino%20Gaming%20Update%22