SwC Bitcoin Poker’s Bryan Micon Exclusive Post Raid Interview
[The following post is by TDV Contributor, Jeff Berwick]
In the so-called “Land Of The Free” it is basically illegal to do everything, including online poker.
I have had a personal relationship with Bryan Micon of the bitcoin poker site, Seals With Clubs, for years. I began playing on his site before I even knew him and was surprised when he contacted me to have me on his podcast, Donkdown Radio. Since that time we have met up and played together in Las Vegas and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
Then, this happened.
On February 11th, the Nevada Gaming Control Board raided Seals With Club chairman Bryan Micon’s house due to his involvement with the bitcoin poker site. Agents burst through the door armed to the teeth, knowing full well a baby lived inside, and Micon was handcuffed and escorted outside in his undergarments.
The agents who raided his home stole his laptops and other electronic equipment. Micon had guns pointed in his face.
“I’m a victim of the unfortunate systemic police state that has taken over the United States… I was charged with no crime, yet armed men broke down my door, pointed many guns at me – of course, traumatized my family – and then proceeded to steal all of my good electronics.”
You can view Brian's very passionate statement to the internet after the raid below:
The Dollar Vigilante spoke with him about his recent situation, his plan and the future of online gambling.
TDV: A raid upon you was conducted by the Nevada Gaming Commission(NGC) and armed police at your home. Are US citizens now safer because of the quick action of the NGC and police?
BM: Of course the rest of the humans are no safer after the latest military-style raid on a non-violent USA citizen in good standing. In fact, many are much less safe now, specifically anyone working on bleeding edge bitcoin gambling technology. Also it wasn't very quick. I've been the marketing guy & site pro for SealsWithClubs since 2011. For the last three years, I played the WSOP decked out in SealsWithClubs logos. I keep an open door policy with my email inbox. Mind-boggling that the contact method chosen to discuss this matter with me was “military-style raid.”
TDV: What kind of underwear were you wearing when the agents led you away from your home in merely your underwear?
BM: As a matter of pure coincidence (it's about 3 weeks after the ordeal) I am wearing similar underwear currently. (I spend a lot of time around the house with my wife & kid, and yeah, I'm frequently wearing only underwear) They are Tommy Hilfiger, but I'm not some wigger bangin' screw and buying diamond grills. My wife buys me high quality underwear that she finds at cheap prices, usually in bulk. Then I have a grip of underwear for a while. The wife is great btw. Frugal, beautiful, smart, funny, had my baby. Really hit the jackpot all in all. So yeah, I was wearing these Tommy underwear outside my front fucking door with my neighbors certainly already outside BECAUSE MY DOOR WAS JUST BROKE DOWN WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.
Do we live in 1992 LA again? They are breaking down doors for non-violent drug crimes again? Is Nancy Reagan going to ride along during the next bitcoin baron bust? It is important to note I was also in handcuffs. Mostly naked, in handcuffs, in my front lawn, I was positively euphoric. I had just had 3+ guns pointed at me (I'm pretty sure the number was 5, but in the re-occurring nightmare I keep having of the lead guy pointing his gun at me, there are like 2 support guns behind him, then after that it's fuzzy, but after gun 1 is pointed at you then gun 2 is not that big of a concern, 3 is noticeable because you are thinking “fuck that's now officially *a lot* of guns pointed at me” so the actual number is mostly irrelevant.) but I'm euphoric standing out in my front lawn with my neighbors looking at me because now it's so much less likely I'm about to die. The guns were all put away at this point, and sure I'm handcuffed like an asshole in my fucking underwear standing outside my front fucking door at 8ish am, but at least they aren't pointing guns at you anymore! Huge step up.
TDV: Were you charged with anything?
BM: Nope. Free man. They were serving a search warrant. In 2015 Nevada, USA, a search warrant is served so hard they march you around in your undies.
TDV: Seals With Clubs Relaunched Under SwCPoker on March 1. What led to this decision?
Only a few different things in my life have every really “grabbed me.” Golden Tee, Poker, My wife Martha, Bitcoin, my daughter Anna, and FPV quadcopters. The bitcoin poker community screamed at me to bring it back. They need a place to play bitcoin poker that they know the owner won't steal from them or cheat them. And he'll charge a low rake and build the games they want to play. So many humans reached out offering support from all over the world, it was clear that there was no quit here, I must continue for both the players and so I can foster a “Bitcoin silicon valley” area somewhere in the world and then roll that bitcoin wealth into clean energy research so we can get off the diesel dick.
TDV: How did the launch go? Are you excited about the future of SWCPoker?
BM: I have never been more excited about any project ever. There are 133 players online as we speak and we've been peaking at over 200 players at night. This is an amazing start for the brand. Once we build our systems out, and we'll continue to go fast, we are going to take over a small slice of the online poker world. (A small slice would be a huge win IMO. We are going to get many times bigger in size within the next 6 months)
TDV: You have moved to Antigua. Why?
BM: Not moved, I have a 12 month lease and I'm considering all options for where, if anywhere, to base SwC Poker.I'm just chillin' in Antigua for a year. I initially booked this trip months ago, as my wife and baby love the beach, there is 4g LTE coverage on all of said beaches, and I kind of wanted to play Pokerstars while I helped market SealsWithClubs 🙂 The business development team is working on many different options, but after being on-island for a month, man, I'd love to base operations here, drone the beaches, and set up many different bitcoin gambling companies to do the same. The locals here have a long history of working for online gambling companies, dating back to the 90's. It's been awesome so far but there are many things to consider before making big changes. I'm just going to relax for a month or two with the family and handle SwC Poker emails from the beach.
TDV: What kind of world would you want your daughter to live in?
BM: One where she heads a think-tank on clean energy that I bankrolled and uses her brilliance and beauty to further the message of Bitcoin and clean energy research. Ideally she would develop some super-cheap 3d-printable from corn solar source that would destroy the oil sector and humanity would properly wield the electron like I know we are destined to do.
TDV: How is Antigua?
BM: It's brilliant. Simply brilliant.
TDV: You are pursuing a gambling license in Antigua? What led to this decision?
BM: Exploring all options, Antigua is on the shortlist.
TDV: Why is protecting the right to gamble so important?
BM: Poker, especially SwC Poker / Seals before that is an exceptionally social game. The players that are online right now (now 145 connected) can participate in an uncensored chat with other players from all around the globe. The community built over the last 3+ years at Seals is alive and well at SwC Poker. It is a human urge to gamble with each other. We are social animals. 1000's of years ago, humans liked to gamble. A percentage of gamblers are problem gamblers. A percentage of drinkers are problem drinkers. This doesn't mean we shouldn't make beer.
TDV: Why do you do your podcast despite running a successful poker site?
BM: I dunno, Donkdown is pretty stupid. May close it eventually but I just like podcasting once per week. I think i do it instead of therapy.
TDV: Is there anything else you feel is important?
BM: Bitcoin is going to change the world. If you don't know about it, start googling now plz k thnkz.
In closing, I had warned Bryan numerous times that living in the USSA and trying to operate on online bitcoin poker business is a very dangerous affair. Unfortunately he did not listen but now he knows. We wish him the best of luck with his new bitcoin poker venture and his new life in Antigua where he should be much safer and freer.