The Ramada Plaza Hotel in Kentwood, Michigan was recently raided by the police as an illegal gambling operation was taken down. Police spokesmen said the illegal poker tournaments included topless dealers and hostesses and the serving of alcohol. Police arrested 20 people, including four topless dealers.

The authorities were tipped off by the Texas Hold’em poker event from its advertisement on Craig’s List.

“That’s how it came on our radar screen,” said Lt. Curt Schram of the Michigan Police to a local T.V. news station. “They were so open about it.”

No hotel workers were charged but Schram confirmed the management was aware of the operation. Apparently, the tournament organizer convinced hotel executives that everything they were doing was legal.

The tournament host has not been found, but police are planning his arrest. The authorities know his identity and said he is based in Detroit. The man previously tried to host similar events at hotels in Muskegon, but was denied access.

Scram said there were at least three such poker events held in the past month at the Ramada in a conference room, and sometimes the girls were completely nude. He said the girls would perform for tips, playing in Twister games and offering Jello shots.

I’m not condoning this type of behavior but one would think if he had planned this out for other hotels before, he would know better than to advertise it on a public forum like Craig’s List available to the authorities.