She's not bluffing: Games illegal

Hey just got this info, we knew it would be coming, guess its finally
arrived....


Web-posted Saturday, August 14, 2004
She's not bluffing: Games illegal


Potter County attorney warns against charity poker

By KAREN D. SMITH

The Amarillo Globe-News

Odds are some charitable folks have broken state gambling laws without
realizing it.
Whether sit-down affairs or traveling games on wheels, poker games are
illegal unless they're held in a private place, the house takes no cut of
the winnings and the chances of winning or losing are the same for all who
play.

"If you pay to play and there's a chance to win a prize of value at any card
game, that is gambling and that is against the law," Letson said. "And there
is not an exception for charity."

The only way to run a legal charity poker game would be to charge to play
but offer no prizes, or to offer prizes without charging an entry fee, "but
that doesn't make you any money," Letson said.


The whole story at this link below

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/081404/new_gambling.shtml

 

Elmer,

I think the folks in Austin are trying to justify a few salaried state
positions. We had the same thing happen with a fundraising raffle that a
club I belong to put together... They got a letter from the State of Texas
last week telling them that they were in violation of the law, but did
mention that it needed to be called a fundraiser, and never to use the term
"raffle" in the advertising, as a raffle was gambling, and that gambling
is illegal in Texas (what are we doing when we buy Texas lottery tickets,
if not gambling?).
It was a 50/50 raffle... half to the winner of the raffle drawing, the
other half went to the beneficiary of the charity drive... again.. it's
all in the phrasing.

Rex S.