An Owensboro man is facing felony charges for his alleged role in a long-term illegal poker room in Evansville.
Mark Nicholas Edge, 41, is one of two men charged in connection to the room’s operation following an investigation by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). Edge was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Vanderburgh County jail, but was released later in the day on bond. The other suspect, Edward Hill, was arrested last week and also bonded out.
Both men face felony charges in Indiana of corrupt business influence, professional gambling, and promoting professional gambling.
According to an affidavit, a confidential source informed the IGC that Hill and Edge ran illegal poker games Monday through Friday in the evenings and some afternoons from July 2021 to April 2022 in an office space on Weinbach Avenue in Evansville.
The confidential source said Hill ran the games while Edge was the primary dealer/manager, according to the affidavit.
Per the affidavit, Indiana State Police executed a search warrant at the office space on April 5, 2022, and observed two poker games in progress with a total of 16 players and two dealers, including Edge.
Officers seized $9,240 in cash at that location, plus another $13,182 in cash during a search at Hill’s residence, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also alleges that Hill and Edge separated from another illegal poker room operation in Evansville in July 2021. They affidavit says upon opening their own independent poker room, Hill and Edge entered a 75%-25% partnership with Edge keeping all tips generated while dealing poker games.
