Licensing Board to Discuss Alleged Illegal Gambling at Salem VFW

At their meeting tonight, the Salem Licensing Board will discuss a recently-fled four-point complaint against the Witch City Post No. 1524 VFW on Derby Street.

According to the complaint, which will be presented by Det. Sgt. James Page, the A.B.C.C. contacted Page in September regarding alleged illegal gambling at the VFW. 

On Sunday, Dec. 22, the Senior Investigator of the A.B.C.C’s Investigation Enforcement Division and Page conducted an administrative inspection of the club. Several members of the Salem Police Department Criminal Investigation Division reportedly assisted with the inspection. 

As a result of the inspection, Page brought the following charges to the board at a meeting last month:

• A violation of 204 CMR 2.05 (2), “Permitting an Illegality on the Licensed Premises, to wit: M.G.L. c271, s17 Keeping a building or room or any part thereof for registering bets.
• A violation of 204 CMR 2.05(1), “Permitting Gambling”, to wit: Gambling of any sort, except those games of chance authorized by the Legislature and/or local licensing authorities, shall not be permitted on any license premises (football cards).
• A violation of 204 CMR 2.05(1), “Permitting Gambling”, to wit: Gambling of any sort, except those games of chance authorized by the Legislature and/or local licensing authorities, shall not be permitted on any license premises (football squares).
• A violation of 204 CMR 2.05, “Licensed Premises”, to wit: Gambling of any sort, except those games of chance authorized by the Legislature and/or local licensing authorities, shall not be permitted on any license premises (Super Bowl Raffle).

Salem Patch will post updates from tonight's meeting.