Poker Game Faces On As Charities Seek Fund-Raisers
Looking to energize fund raising, charities have called on lawmakers for permission to move beyond traditional bake sales and bingo to capitalize on a poker craze fed by Texas hold 'em on television and the ancient Chinese game of Pai gow. Trading chocolate chips for poker chips is proving difficult, however.
Nonprofits have balked at tough limits proposed by state regulators, but powerful card-club interests are demanding those restrictions to protect their turf. Companies that contract to run casino nights for a cut of the donations are angry, and anti-gambling interests want lawmakers to simply fold the games.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office has signaled that it may have no choice but to crack down on nonprofits if the Legislature fails to change the law. Many groups continue to sponsor poker nights and casino-themed fund-raisers despite warnings. "We do not want to be put in the position to have to shut these things down," said Bob Lytle, director of the state's Gambling Control Division. "We believe they should have the opportunity to exist as a fund-raising tool."
June 16, 2006
Posted By Nancy Lenz
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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