Poker companions of shooting victim Richard Gaglio yesterday hit back at suggestions his home was used as a gambling den — insisting that they were just playing a friendly game of cards.

Mr. Gaglio last night remained in critical condition in intensive care at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after two robbers invaded his garage at Hinson Lane, Smith's, and shot him in the chest at close range in the early hours of Sunday.

People who played cards with the 62-year-old moments before the incident say they are dismayed at Police's claim that criminals pounced because "the underworld" knew Mr. Gaglio used his house for organised gambling.

They accept thousands of dollars exchanged hands during the match, but say they did nothing illegal as Mr. Gaglio, or "the house", never profited from the proceedings.

One MP regularly takes part in the games, as well as a Police officer and a former Police officer, well-known international businessmen, a union official and a leading restaurateur.

Players say they were forced into going into private homes after Police cracked down on popular games in bars such as Flanagan's and The Beach — thus losing the sense of security provided by a professional venue.

However, they stopped short of blaming the shooting on the poker ban, with Beach owner Rick Olson saying the gunmen who hid in bushes outside Mr. Gaglio's house may also have been prepared to lurk outside Front Street bars waiting for the winner to leave with cash.

About half a dozen poker players spoke to The Royal Gazette yesterday, all asking not to be named for fear of being targeted themselves.

"This shooting had nothing to do with poker as such, it happened because violence has got out of control. And it's up to our leaders to do something," said one player who was at the game.

"Gangsters are running this Country and poor Richard, who for years has enjoyed his poker, has suffered the worst consequences.

"He's become a victim because Police have been unable to deal with the increase in guns. It's not just the gangs who carry guns, it seems every criminal has one."

Another player said: "To characterise the whole situation as an illicit, underground back room gambling establishment is a whole pile of crap.

"We are 30 to 40 guys and girls who enjoy playing poker and enjoy each others' company and get together and play cards. People hold card games at their homes the whole time. We are very disappointed at the way this has been portrayed."

"We're all worried about Richard and hoping he fully recovers," said another. "But the Police comments seemed to indicate he was running an illegal operation and we're annoyed about that.

"They called it a 'house used for organised gambling'. What a bunch of crap. We're a group of friends who get together for a game we all enjoy."

One man who left Mr. Gaglio's house about two hours before the incident said players had been trying to piece together what happened when the victim was shot as he cleaned up with a close friend at about 1.30 a.m., after almost all the 25 or so players had gone home, taking virtually all the cash with them.

Speaking about the intruders, one of whom had a gun and the other allegedly a machete, the player said: "Clearly these idiots didn't know what the hell was going on.

"If they did, they wouldn't have waited until everyone had gone home with all the money.

"From what I have heard, they were inexperienced and it was an accidental shooting. But that doesn't excuse them. If you walk into someone's house with a gun you are responsible for the consequences.

"They took a little bit of cash off the other guy, about $130 or $140. I would certainly not be surprised if these guys burst into Gags' house and he asked what the heck they were doing. But we don't know what actually happened."

The player said he had helped organise poker games since the bar ban, but added: "There's a huge difference between working out of a licensed establishment on Front Street, in full view of everyone, compared to somebody's house which might be off the beaten track in a secluded area.

"I'm not saying that because it went underground it caused the problem, but it hasn't helped."

Mr. Olson said games at The Beach used to attract dozens of players, with the only real advantage to himself being sale of food and drinks.

"We were never given a definitive answer as to whether poker was illegal or legal," he said.

"It was put to us by the Police that by doing this we were possibly jeopardising our liquor licence."

Mr. Olson lives in the same street as Mr. Gaglio. He said his family did not hear anything unusual on Saturday night, but he has seen lots of highly-regarded members of the community come and go for poker nights over the past two years.

He says an element of control was lost when Police kicked poker out of bars, but does not believe players' safety would have been guaranteed wherever they played.

"The same thing could happen in Front Street if a person was known to leave my place with a couple of thousand dollars," he said.

Police now say one of the suspects was about 5ft 9ins, and his accomplice was noticeably shorter.

l Anyone with information should call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8106 or the confidential CrimeStoppers hotline 800-8477.