Handful Of Alaskans Accused Of Running High-Stakes 'Paycheck Poker' Ring

A high-stakes form of “paycheck poker” at a seafood processing plant in an Alaskan town was busted this fall, and arraignments for a handful of individuals accused of running the games are schedule for next week, KUCB Unalaska reported.

A police officer reportedly described the game: “Your poker hand was determined by some numbers on your paycheck. That correlates somehow to cards in a poker hand.”

According to a 2007 article by WardsAuto, paycheck poker can be played by making a five-card hand from the last three digits of the serial number and the cents of the take-home pay. Each number is assigned to a card in the deck. For example, a zero could represent an ace.

Typically, the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. The game has been played for years among workers in other parts of the country.

The organizers of the aforementioned Alaska game allegedly received free buy-ins, which reportedly is why the authorities became interested in what was going on. A coworker and participant in the contests reportedly outed those who are currently charged.

KUCB Unalaska described the size of the operation:

• According to court documents, Eileen Ceralde, 34, organized a game that involved 200 participants. There were multiple prizes, and a winning ticket could earn you cash, a Bowflex exercise machine, or even a Jeep Liberty. It was such a high-stake game that Ceralde paid three coworkers to bring in more players. She told police that she paid Perla Salacup, 51, a total of $250 to collect antes. Marlyn Baker, 47, also admitted to receiving $200 for recruiting six players. Luisa East, 51, admitted to earning $300 from Ceralde.

If convicted of the misdemeanor of promoting unlawful gambling, the accused could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a year behind bars. The only kind of gambling businesses authorized in Alaska are for charities and tribes.

Paycheck poker is also played in some casinos. Nevada’s Arizona Charlies Boulder runs its own version of the game, but it doesn’t actually involve poker, the casino said. It’s more like a raffle, designed to provide more incentives for video gambling.

Follow Brian Pempus on Twitter — @brianpempus

Most Viewed Articles