There’s some drama brewing at the most infamous retirement community in the world — The Villages in Florida — over recreational poker game bans, and it’s put many residents on tilt.
The Villages, the world’s largest retirement community with over 145,000 residents from all across the globe, is infamous for its apparently vibrant swingers’ scene and black market for Viagra. But the area also previously had some popular poker games running inside various rec centers but some have since been shut down, a decision that has caused some uproar.
Popular YouTuber Peter Santanello, who has over 2.8 million subscribers, even featured the community in a video last year to find out the truth behind the supposed drunken debauchery that takes place within The Villages.
Retirees Just Want to Play Poker
The Villages is a safe and vibrant community full of activities for homeowners such as pickleball, parties, golf, shopping, couples swinging (allegedly), and poker. Well, not so much so on poker anymore, it appears.
On the community’s local news site — Villages-News.com — many residents recently have submitted a Letter to the Editor in regards to poker games being banned from the various on-site recreational centers.
On Feb. 18, a resident named Robert Kraus wrote that his “favorite activity,” poker, is being targeted by the community following the regular private game at the Laurel Manor Recreational Center being banned by staff.
The Villages offers various clubs for its residents, including some poker clubs. These clubs are becoming extinct, and Mr. Kraus isn’t sure why, but he is concerned that “this decision is the start of possibly closing other games.”
“It has also been noted that a good percentage of the poker players are unable to play sports, enjoy the pool or golf. Thus, it is a good mind exercise and a reason to think!”
As Kraus pointed out in his Letter to the Editor, the no-limit Hold’em games played are “completely legal.” He explained that many of the players are veterans and those who are handicapped and “limited to other activities as alternatives.” Another resident noted that he suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS) and the poker games serve as a relief to his health issues.
The poker game ban at Laurel Manor appears to stem from an apparently unruly resident who was a renter and no longer lives at The Villages. For the reason that the poker player who stirred up trouble is gone has one individual asking, “Can we please get back to where we were?”
“It has also been noted that a good percentage of the poker players are unable to play sports, enjoy the pool or golf. Thus, it is a good mind exercise and a reason to think!” writes Gayle Thompson.
The games played in the rec centers are typically low-stakes, with tournament buy-ins around $25 and all money returned to the players, so no rake involved.
“We have met many new friends there, by interacting with them or helping them enjoy their experience. Please reconsider your decision to close Texas Hold’em tournaments and let us Villagers who love it here enjoy our fun recreation,” writes Ed Graf.
Graf noted that the “well-run, legal” Texas hold’em poker games attract many residents with disabilities who are incapable of competing in the various more physical activities offered to The Villages residents.
If the rec centers continue to ban poker games, there are some residents of The Villages who host private home games, so there might still be alternative options for some players.