Bill would ease poker wager limits Maine

Proposed changes in Maine's gaming laws could yield big returns for charities, nonprofit groups and the state without many of the perceived drawbacks of casino gambling, say proponents.

The changes also would make it easier for the legions of Texas Hold 'em fans to play the tournament-style poker that has become a rage on television.

"It's probably the No. 1 game in the United States of America right now and maybe in the world," said Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, a fan of the card game. But state rules on wagering limits - $1 - make it almost impossible to play. Patrick is lead sponsor of legislation that would ease the wagering limits, making Texas Hold 'em charity tournaments easier to put on and ensuring the charities get a fair share of the profits.

Texas Hold 'em tournaments have surged in popularity since cable sports networks started broadcasting games from casinos across the country. The game is easy to understand, moves quickly and employs large-scale betting that adds to the drama. The format - only a few people from a large field actually win prizes - can lead to sizable payouts.

"Bowling is off, billiards is not what it used to be, and people are looking for entertainment," said Ross Furman, owner of Skillful Vending, which sponsors a Texas Hold 'em tournament broadcast weekly on the local WB affiliate. "We had thousands of people who e-mailed to try and get on to the show," he said.

The popularity has led several nonprofit groups to host tournaments as fundraisers or for the enjoyment of members. A portion of the entry fee - typically ranging from $20 to $50 - usually goes to the charity, and some covers the costs of the tournament, such as renting the hall and paying for food.

"It can be a really successful fundraiser," said Denise Martin, the driving force behind Deering High School's Project Graduation. "In one shot, you can make your money for the year," she said, noting that a Texas Hold 'em tournament the group held in January raised $8,000 and one held in late April probably did about the same.

However, a state rule that limits any single bet in a game of chance to $1 has lately been interfering with the games.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDS

Texas Hold 'em tournaments consist of several games going on simultaneously at different tables. As a player wins all of the chips wagered at one table, he or she moves to the next level of competition until a single table of players remains.

Typically, each person at the final table would qualify for some prize money with the person who wins all the chips earning the biggest share.

The tournament progresses as individuals run out of money. That happens when players make large bets, a key part of the psychology of the game. Much of the game's thrill comes when players go "all in," meaning they are wagering all their chips. If they lose, they are out of the game.

That's where the state limit of $1, which applies even to poker chips, can slow things down.

"A normal Texas Hold 'em tournament takes six to eight hours . . . betting one dollar it may take weeks," said Patrick.

Because the state rules were unclear, or ignored, many past tournaments have allowed wagering more than $1 worth of chips. But now the state is cracking down. It has issued citations to the American Legion clubs in Bath and Oakland for violating gaming rules and has started holding meetings with nonprofit groups around the state to explain the laws covering games of chance.

"We have been enforcing the bet limit since day one. It's just a matter of having the bodies to get out there and watch the games to make sure bet limits are adhered to," said State Police Lt. Pat Fleming, who oversees the state police gambling unit. "These games are going every day all over the state. I have two inspectors that have to inspect all of these organizations."

The inspectors were out in full force as Deering's Project Graduation held its tournament at the end of April at Scarborough Downs.

TOURNEY ATTRACTS HUNDREDS

More than 300 players turned out for the tournament, though organizers were prepared for as many as 500.

The inspectors said no more than four chips could be wagered at a time, which in tournament-style Texas Hold 'em can slow the game to a crawl. Players often had to exchange a stack of one color chips for a smaller number of higher value chips so that they could increase their wager without violating the four-chip rule. More than two dozen people asked for their money back and organizers obliged.

"Things got really confusing," said Todd Schools, one of those who signed up for the tournament. "What we thought was Texas Hold 'em ended up being something different. Nobody understood the monetary value."

"Our table pretty much figured it out, and we had a pretty good game," said Schools, who played until he was knocked out when his king-high flush lost to an opponent's ace-high flush.

Martin says one drawback to the state rules is that only legitimate organizations are penalized.

"They're pushing it underground, and it's becoming the black market game. That makes it hard for a charity that wants to have a valid fundraiser," she said.

The cumbersome restrictions would change under Patrick's bill, which would remove the betting limit in such tournament games while establishing clear guidelines for entry fees and what amounts must go to charity, prizes and the state.

Allowing the tournaments would have other benefits, Patrick said. Money now flows out of the state as busloads of gamblers head to Connecticut casinos or generate revenue for the out-of-state company that runs slot machines in Bangor. That money would stay here, nonprofits would have a good fundraising option, and players would have easy access to the entertainment they seek, he said.

Patrick said Texas Hold 'em tournaments are not the same as casino gambling, though they have much of the same allure.

The majority of money that does not go to prizes will remain in the state in the form of revenue for nonprofits and charities, he said. The tournaments also are not as compulsive as some other types of gambling because once a person enters the tournament, that is as much as they can lose. Once they've been knocked out, they cannot wager more to re-enter, he said.

The bill estimates the state would receive about $600,000 in licensing fees each year, with about half the money going to pay for overseeing the new games.

The bill was approved by both House and Senate last year but now is languishing on the Appropriations table. Appropriations Committee Chair Margaret Rotundo said the panel is trying to meet before the Legislature reconvenes later this month to discuss bills such as Patrick's that remain on the table.

Nobody spoke against the bill during its hearing last year, but there are some reservations. Among them is that even though the changes would generate more than enough state revenue to pay for additional inspectors, there is an political aversion to expanding the state payroll.

Some critics say tournament poker isn't as innocent as fans portray it.

"This poker stuff is a gateway to a lot of compulsive gamblers getting involved," said Arnie Wexler, who served eight years as executive director of New Jersey's Council on Compulsive Gambling.

"These tournaments are going to be the first time some of these people gambled. Some of them are going to become addicted. Then you're going to see a real disaster. Once somebody gets addicted, it destroys their whole life," Wexler said. "This poker stuff is like crack cocaine was 25 years ago."

Wexler also opposes states culling revenue from gambling when it can be so bad for society.

A spokesman for Casinos No!, which has been a vocal opponent of casino gambling and slot machine parlors in Maine, said the charity tournaments are not a serious concern for the group.

"We're not an anti-gambling organization. We're anti-casino and slot machine because of the impacts on communities and families and you don't have these impacts with the occasional card games," said Dennis Bailey. "As long as these games are limited and don't allow people to lose their shirt, it's probably not going to be that big an issue."

article courtesy of Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

News Added: 08 May, 2006

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