Funds Returned from Charity Poker Bust

Looks like the state of Ohio has a heart, after all. Five months after having $6,000 seized in a charity poker tournament raid by state liquor board officials, the family finally got the money back, money that is to be used to help pay a cancer patient’s bills.

In January 2006, a tournament was organized in Elmwood Place, Ohio, to help raise money for Bob Bode, who was suffering from rectal cancer. But the charitable plans were foiled when undercover agents raided the event, held at the Elmwood Place Eagles Club, and confiscated the $6,000 that was to go towards Bode’s medical bills. Officials said the tournament was shut down because the organizers did not have the correct permits.

Upset but undeterred, the Bode family held a charity dance two weeks later to try to raise money once again. This time, their efforts were a success. Of particular frustration for the family was the fact that most of the tickets sold for the poker tournament were to friends and family, not just random people off the street, so it was fairly obvious it wasn’t some money-making scheme. One of the non-family members who bought a ticket happened to be one of the undercover agents.

Fortunately, the story finally has a happy ending. The state has decided to give the family back the money. And, after all is said and done, they now have $20,000 to help pay for Bob’s recovery.

Said Bob’s brother, Mike Bode, "I had to kind of plead my case to the commission board up there, the liquor board and tell them the money was all supposed to go directly to my brother and after they heard my story up there, they were more than willing to let me have the money back."

Originally published May 22, 2006