A poker club in Albany, New York, USA, was shut down by police on Wednesday, just hours after a man leaving a poker game there was beaten and robbed of thousands of dollars.

According to media reports, police shut down the Azzurri club, which was operating illegally.

Late Tuesday, a poker player left the club and was confronted by two armed men in the club’s parking lot.

The men pistol-whipped the poker player, robbed him and fled.

The victim, who was not identified, was treated for injuries.

The bandits are still on the loose.

About 18 hours after the robbery, Albany police shut down the club, saying it was operating in violation of the law.

The club, police said, was collecting a “rake” or portion of each pot.

The club is owned and run by Joseph Federico of Wynantskill, New York, USA, police said.

This is not the first time a poker patron at the club has been robbed.

In June of 2008, four gunmen held up the club, robbing dozens of poker players of cash and jewelry.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)