Poker Gets a Bum Wrap – WTG AMVETS!
AMVETS is a non-profit group that hosts fund raisers all across the country to assist veterans, cancer organizations, and children with disabilities. So you’d think that that these guys would be ok running a non-profit poker tournament, right? Wrong.
Despite having applied for an being approved to host a poker tournament to raise money at an event in Kentwood, Michigan the town officials now say “no” to poker. Because of an antiquated law on the books they’re now being told that because the host location (a small bistro) also serves alcohol, that it violates the law and the event cannot be held. The law says that “gaming operations” can’t exist inside of an establishment that serves alcohol.
So now the small group is out their $200 fee to register for their permit and stuck trying to find a new location to host their event. The original location was being donated for their use at no charge.
The constant news of small non-profits getting the door slammed in their face when trying to host a poker game is getting old. Do the officials truly fear that the game will get out of hand? Maybe a cash game will break out and rip apart the moral fabric of the community? Not likely. The reality is that the conservative nature of so many of these states officials overrides any common sense. The prevailing wisdom is that poker is bad and regardless of who is hosting the event, it’s bad for the “community”.
Someone needs to tell these folks it’s the 21st Century and there are far worse things in life than a friendly poker game. These guys don’t really look so bad….
Full Tilt Referral Code said
am October 12 2008 @ 7:30 pm
It never ceases to amaze me that the local governments in this country keep going back to old, antiquated laws to defend their decisions against poker. It is time for change, people! It also amazes me how the local goverments always look the other way when their pockets are being lined with cash by giving horse racing tracks and state lotteries permissions that are denied for poker players. Even in the case where a charitable event based on poker is denied, you have to question the logic behind these decisions.