Hold'em for charity now allowed in Manitoba

It took a pilot project and a year-long study by the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission to do the convincing, but charitable and religious organizations in the province can now hold real-money poker tournaments to raise funds for their cause.

Everybody wants to cash in on the poker boom, and as of Feb. 1, groups in Manitoba can apply for a provincial license to hold Texas Hold'em poker events with actual cash payouts for their participants.

The new licensing agreement comes after a two-month pilot project that assessed the outcomes of 12 accepted organization-run tournaments, and a corresponding year-long study by the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission to assess problem gambling risks.

The verdict? As long as the charitable or religious organization oversees the event, a tournament can be held in a privately-owned building, including hotels, restaurants or bars.

Spending is limited during events, however, to address the problem gambling issue, and they must meet provincial and Criminal Code legislation. Tournaments are also restricted to people over the age of 18.

Previously, the province-run Club Regent Casino was the only place people could win real money in licensed tournaments

courtesy of Christopher Hunt

News Added: 23 January, 2007

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