Canada Kids Poker Tour forced to cancel

A children's poker camp planned for this summer in British Columbia, Canada, was cancelled as a result of pressure from the B.C. government.

After calling the two-day camp "reprehensible," Solicitor-General John Les announced a change to B.C. gaming regulations Tuesday requiring businesses that teach children how to gamble to be licensed.


The Kids Poker Tour, a two-day camp scheduled to begin this month, was going to be one and a half days of instruction in Texas Hold'em and then a half day tournament. Campers in two groups, 15- to 18-year-olds and 10- to 14-year-olds, would have learned math and analytical skills from professionals in addition to the downfalls of gambling.

With the change in the regulation, Larry Klatt, one of the organizers of the Kids Poker Tour, said they decided to pull the plug on the event because they knew the government would have shut it down.

The planned programming for the Kids Poker Tour had already been altered to make sure it was in accordance with B.C. laws, including canceling prizes such as educational subsidies and free admission to future events. However, the changes in the regulation now require anyone planning to put on gaming activities directed at children to get a permit, which can be denied if the event is not considered to be in the public's interest.

News Added: 29 June, 2006

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