Bookie who ran Wichita poker games gets probation in federal gambling case
A bookie who ran illegal poker games in Wichita will serve two years of federal probation and pay $117,161 in restitution to the IRS.
Daven Flax, 48, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of illegal gambling and one count of making a false tax statement. He was sentenced Tuesday, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister’s Office.
In his plea, Flax admitted to running an illegal gambling business that included arranging by-invitation-only poker games at several spots in Wichita, paying employees like waitresses and dealers to work the games, and renting the buildings where they were held.
In return, he received a cut from the amount of money bet in each hand.
Flax, who also worked as a sub-bookie for an illegal sports betting operation, raked in about $346,000 but didn’t pay any federal income tax on his gambling earnings, the release said.
Flax is one of several people who have faced federal charges following a years-long FBI probe into illegal gambling in Wichita.
This story was originally published May 8, 2019 at 11:44 AM.
