Video Poker Kingpin Gets Three Years Behind Bars

Video poker magnate Casey Szaflarski was sentenced on Tuesday to more than three years behind bars for running an illegal gambling operation.

Upon handing down his sentence, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman said that Szaflarski may be a nice guy, but his character is no better than the men behind the operation. Those men included reputed Cicero mob boss Michael "Big Mike" Sarno, according to court documents. 

“Your character is no better than theirs,” Guzman told Szaflarski.

The 54-year-old was accused of placing video poker machines in bars in and around Chicago, often with the help of mob muscle. Prosecutors said the mob earns millions of dollars each year from illegal gambling involving such equipment.

During the trial Szaflarski claimed to have no knowledge of the video poker machines being used for gambling purposes. 

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com