Idaho's State-Sponsored Gambling Ring Whacks a Small-Time Competitor

by Will Grigg
Dec. 05, 2013

On the same day that Boise property owner Skinner Anderson was arrested and charged with gambling-related felonies, the state’s largest gambling syndicate began its largest buy-in to date. The state government of Idaho – which is collaborating in the prosecution of Anderson and the seizure of his property – announced its Mega Millions lottery jackpot. Tickets cost one dollar apiece, and will be sold at retail outlets state-wide, thereby directly implicating hundreds of business owners – as well as the entire taxpaying population -- in an activity that would be regarded as criminal if conducted privately.

Anderson has been charged with an obscure and little-prosecuted offense called “misprision of felony” because he failed to notify authorities that a home he had rented was being used for what are described as illegal poker games and tournaments. Earlier this year, police raided two houses in which poker games were conducted, one of which belonged to Anderson.

When the FBI became involved in order to facilitate seizure of the property, Kings Santy, who organized the games, became a cooperating witness, implicating Anderson.

Mr. Anderson, who had no direct involvement in a penny-ante poker tournament, may be sent to prison by the same government that operates a multi-billion-dollar gambling operation.