by gohnjotti » Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:27 pm
PolackTony wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:13 pm
Peppermint wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:08 pm
What the hell is “joker poker” lmao
Video poker machine racket. Is the term joker poker just a Chicago thing? That's what we always called it lol.
It’s huge in NY, the Colombos control vast swathes of Joker Poker territory in Brooklyn and Long Island, the Bonannos have historically had lots of Joker Poker activities in the Bronx and Queens. I’m sure other posters can elaborate on the scope of the Bonanno operations with DeFilippo in the Bronx and the Grimaldis and Co. in Queens, but with the Colombos I can firmly say that Joker Poker (video gambling) is one of their strongest family-wide rackets.
John Azzarelli, an associate, was kicking up $1000 a month for the right to operate Joker Poker under the Colombo family, and he was just one example of the Joker Poker proprietors and distributors. According to his 2008 indictment as well as court testimony from Dino Calabro and others, Gioeli’s Joker-Poker empire spanned from the 1980s up until his arrest, and he handled various machines across the metropolitan area.
Sonny Franzese is somebody I believe to be a Joker Poker kingpin, or at least his crew was. I can’t think of why I recall that, but I know that Franzese’s connection to restaurateur Angelo Giangrande was through him placing Joker Poker machines in his store, and it’s also the way John Floridia became associated with the Colombo family. Colombo associate Richie Cappa began placing his machines in the store.
Angelo Spata is another one with significant clout in the Joker Poker industry, mainly because he controls various feasts across New York where Joker Poker and other carnival games are played, including another mob favourite - Razzle Dazzle. You can read up about Angelo Spata’s rise until 2011 on my website at thecolombomafia.com/angelo-spata.
[quote=PolackTony post_id=156601 time=1592334805 user_id=6658]
[quote=Peppermint post_id=156598 time=1592334489 user_id=6524]
What the hell is “joker poker” lmao
[/quote]
Video poker machine racket. Is the term joker poker just a Chicago thing? That's what we always called it lol.
[/quote]
It’s huge in NY, the Colombos control vast swathes of Joker Poker territory in Brooklyn and Long Island, the Bonannos have historically had lots of Joker Poker activities in the Bronx and Queens. I’m sure other posters can elaborate on the scope of the Bonanno operations with DeFilippo in the Bronx and the Grimaldis and Co. in Queens, but with the Colombos I can firmly say that Joker Poker (video gambling) is one of their strongest family-wide rackets.
John Azzarelli, an associate, was kicking up $1000 a month for the right to operate Joker Poker under the Colombo family, and he was just one example of the Joker Poker proprietors and distributors. According to his 2008 indictment as well as court testimony from Dino Calabro and others, Gioeli’s Joker-Poker empire spanned from the 1980s up until his arrest, and he handled various machines across the metropolitan area.
Sonny Franzese is somebody I believe to be a Joker Poker kingpin, or at least his crew was. I can’t think of why I recall that, but I know that Franzese’s connection to restaurateur Angelo Giangrande was through him placing Joker Poker machines in his store, and it’s also the way John Floridia became associated with the Colombo family. Colombo associate Richie Cappa began placing his machines in the store.
Angelo Spata is another one with significant clout in the Joker Poker industry, mainly because he controls various feasts across New York where Joker Poker and other carnival games are played, including another mob favourite - Razzle Dazzle. You can read up about Angelo Spata’s rise until 2011 on my website at thecolombomafia.com/angelo-spata.