Poker lands worker in trouble

A supervisor in N.C. State University's dining program will face disciplinary action for using school computers to play poker in online tournaments.

Participating in online poker games violates both NCSU computer policies and state law, according to a report released Wednesday by state auditor Les Merritt.

NCSU Chancellor Jim Oblinger said that the supervisor is still employed. Citing personnel laws, NCSU officials would not identify the employee.

"The final disciplinary action has not been determined yet," Oblinger said. "Online gambling is way up there when it comes to violations of university regulations, so we will be very diligent about how we pursue this."

The auditor's office learned of the poker games earlier this year when it got a call on its hot line. Investigators visited the office without notice and copied the contents of the supervisor's computer. In subsequent interviews, "he admitted using his university computer to participate in online poker games after work hours," the report said.

A computer activity log showed that most of the gambling occurred in the early evening. The auditor does not think that any university money was used.

The employee told investigators that he won $90 in a free tournament and used that money to enter tournaments requiring entrance fees. His computer history, which tracked winnings and losses, showed his available funds eventually ranged from $662 to $5,262, the report said.

No time frame was offered for the bets involved.

"The employee said his account balance is now zero after participating in several tournaments and losing everything," according to the report.

Oblinger and NCSU internal auditor Ericka Kranitz said they think the incident was isolated. "There is no indication that it was part of a larger pattern," Kranitz said.

University rules do not prohibit employees from using state computers for personal use. But they prohibit their use for personal gain and require that employees comply with state and federal laws. It is a misdemeanor under North Carolina law to place bets of any value involving games of chance.

The law does not apply to the state lottery.

courtesy of Tim Simmons

News Added: 22 September, 2006

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