It would seem that for all of you that don’t think poker is a serious sport, you would have some eye opening to do. Poker is not only a popular and well received sport, but it is also a way to make a lot of money in with very little work. It is a money making business and experts say that it easily brings in hundreds of millions of dollars around the world.

However, some are taking the poker playing a little too seriously. Stanislao Cantelli was executed mafia style Sunday morning while playing an innocent game of poker. The man was distantly related to a local mafia boss, but really had no dealings with them or their business. However, the poor man was killed and Italy’s Interior Minister, Roberto Maroni, likens it to a civil war between two factions.

With 18 bullets in his body, there was no hope of survival. Police found him at the Circolo Sociale Ricreativo, which was a poker playing location. Some say that it is undoubtedly related to the fact that two of his nephews had turned state’s counsel and their testimonies have led to the arrests of more than 100 gangsters.

Investigators believe that the man responsible for the poker player’s murder was none other than 38 year old Guiseppe Setola who was just released from prison this past spring. Setola has strong gang ties and is the gang leader of the group allegedly responsible for the murder. Setola was released from prison for an eye injury and then escaped from the hospital where he was being held. The police are on the lookout for those responsible for the slaying.