City dads asked to legalize poker

CEBU CITY, Philippines - A Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) franchisee has sought the authority of the Cebu City Council to operate a poker gaming center along Salinas Drive in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Michael Co, president of Straight Flush Corp., asked the council to pass a measure that would “legalize” their operations in the city.

Co said that a council authority would encourage the many “clandestine” poker games played in different venues in Cebu City, including in some homes, to be legalized.

Poker is a popular card game where the players gamble on the superior value of the card combination in their possession and place their bets into a central pot.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. had Co's request included in the Oct. 24 council agenda.

But the City Council opted to refer Co's request for further study by committee on games and amusement and the committee on laws and good governance.

Mabuhay Rosero, senior managing head of the poker department, said that the Pagcor board of directors agreed during their Sept. 26 board meeting to issue Co's franchise to allow his company to operate a poker gaming center in Salinas Drive.

Cebu Daily News

News Added: 26 October, 2007

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