State of Bar Poker in MN

This may turn into a rant so I apologize if it does. As the person that had a lot to do with the legalization of Bar Poker in MN it bothers me when people try and do things that are clearly against MN State laws. My worry is that if enough people do things like this that laws may get changed and for many of us that earn money from bar poker it could effect our lives. I am not a person that my only income is from bar poker but it is my part time job and I enjoy doing it.

Here is MN law from their website

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/alcgamb/gamfaq.html


Minnesota law allows for social skill card games of cribbage, skat, sheephead, bridge, euchre, pinochle, gin, 500 and smear or whist and Texas Hold'em, so long as the tournament or contest does not provide any direct financial benefit to the promoter or organizer.

Players in Texas Hold'em tournaments cannot be charged any fee or be required to give any consideration (something of value) as a condition of participation. In other words, players must be able to participate in a Texas Hold'em tournament for free. Prizes can be awarded in Texas Hold'em tournaments. However, as in the case with tournaments involving other social skill games, the value of all prizes awarded in a single tournament cannot exceed $200. With respect to Texas Hold'em, the law further specifies that the value of all prizes awarded to an individual winner of a tournament at a single location may not exceed $200 per day. To participate in Texas Hold'em tournament or contest, a player must be at least 18 years old.

Here are some examples of what I have been seeing lately.

A local radio station had a big promotion that any female could write in and state why her husband, boyfriend, or any other male friend should play in a hold-em tournament that there were running. They picked 50 people from whatever they got and those players meet at a local jewelry store and played for $5000 in jewelry credit from the store. So no entry fee but $5000 in prizes.

A local charity that is actually a county run agency is hosting a hold-em benefit at a bar with a $40 entry fee and $500 1st prize and $1000 in total prizes. I am not against poker for charities, but it needs to be legalized by gambling control. At this time they only allow bingo, pulltabs and paddlewheels that are run by state authorized organizations.

Bars have tried cover charges or extra chips for purchases. Not bad ideas and I understand why bars are trying but the law is clear about all these things.

Bar poker has been a good promotion to increase revenue, but it is getting harder and harder for bars to show profit by running poker tournaments. It is time for a change to the MN holdem laws. My suggestion is to allow charitable gambling license holders to run low stakes buy-in tournaments and keep a percent to cover costs and make a profit, even some of the money could go to the state and we all know they need the money. Most of these organizations are well below past years sales of their other gambling options, so why not have non-profits make a little and then bars can still have tournaments but not have a cost to run them and still increase their revenues.

Who wants to step up and try and make a change. All it takes it some lobbying, so call your local legislators and tell them it's time for a change!