A New Jersey appeals court has upheld a trial judge's civil ruling that Monmouth County had the right to sieze more than $800,000 from an NFL survivor pool operator — a decision that should serve as a warning to the thousands of people in the state who run office pools each year.
John Bovery, who ran the massive pool for years out of his condo, had contended that he was not doing anything illegal running the pools because, unlike sports bookies, he was not taking bets on individual games.
The court disagreed, reaching the decision that Monmouth County prosecutors were acting within their authority when they seized $846,000 from Bovery's three bank accounts and cash found in his house.