Two poker pros busted in illegal gambling raid

[Fonzi]

Two well known professional poker players were among 71 people charged with misdemeanor gambling during a poker tournament on Saturday night while they were playing in what police described as a mini casino.

Michael Gracz, a 2005 WPT champion and WSOP bracelet winner, and tournament poker mainstay Chris Bell were among those playing in a poker tournament when about 20 officers from North Carolina?s Alcohol Law Enforcement agency walked in and told the players to place their hands flat on the tables.

All of the players, including Gracz, were written tickets for misdemeanor gambling charges, but Bell is facing several additional charges including engaging in a game of chance, operating a game of chance, and possession of gaming tables.

The misdemeanor gambling charge is similar to a speeding ticket, which Gracz said we would probably just pay. All of those charged were free to go home and the whole process took about four hours.

"In a way, it?s kind of like how Doyle had it bad in his day, when the cops would come in and take all of their money," Gracz said. "But the players, they?re going to end up playing somewhere."