The recent bust
of a Beaver County card game may make
organizations think twice about going "all in."
The game of
Texas HoldEm, often called the Cadillac of poker,
has become so popular that it can be viewed on at
least five cable TV networks, and the names of
professional poker players Doyle Brunson and
Howard Lederer, who played their game for years in
obscurity, have become household names to many.
Across the Valley, Texas HoldEm tournaments have
popped up as fast as bars during the California
gold rush.
But according
to state police, organizations are not allowed to
make a profit from these tournaments because they
are not covered under the Pennsylvania small games
of chance law. The law allows organizations to get
a license to hold bingo and raffles and similar
games to turn a profit, but it also limits the
amount of profit the organizations can make.
On Oct. 23
troopers from Troop D Butler's vice unit along
with Rochester Police and the Pennsylvania State
Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation raided the
B & B Cigar Shop at 139 Brighton Avenue in
Rochester. Police said several people were at the
establishment at the time of the raid and they
seized gaming tables, chips, cards, ledgers,
flyers, and $943.55 in cash. Sports bets were also
received by state police , and a .45 caliber
pistol was found.
Sgt. James Martsolf of the Butler state police
said the vice unit covers Armstrong, Beaver,
Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.
Capt. Jon
Perry of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, in
Harrisburg, said the only way the tournaments are
legal is if all of the money goes back to the
players.
He said the
games are technically illegal, but admitted that
enforcement across the state has been lax
"We are
looking into that," Perry said.
However,
Martsolf is advising organizations not to hold
these tournaments.
"The position
of the state police is that we are going to
enforce the law," Martsolf said. "The state police
have a zero tolerance policy for breaking laws."
He wasn't
aware Friday of any tournaments that have been
raided in Butler County.
Butler County
District Attorney Tim McCune could not be reached
for comment.
Westmoreland
County District Attorney John Peck referred
questions to the state police vice squad in
Greensburg.
Lt. Jim
Fulmer, crime station commander with the
Greensburg State Police said troopers do research
and keep track of where these tournaments are
being held, but he said troopers move on the
guidance of agencies such as the district attorney
and state attorney general's office.
"If the DA is
not going to prosecute, there's no point in the
state police taking action," Fulmer said.
Mike Manko, a
spokesman for the Allegheny County District
Attorney's office also referred questions to the
state police.
"We're not
involved with the enforcement of the law," he
said. "The enforcement is with the state police."
Perry said it
would take a change in legislation for
organizations in the state to legally profit from
these tournaments.
State Rep.
Darryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, said there is
legislation in the house that would increase the
amount of money organizations can profit from with
small games of chance, but he knows of no
legislation that includes Texas HoldEm.
Metcalfe said
he's against the expansion of gambling, but said
he supports the rights of individuals to lobby for
it.
"Personally,"
Metcalfe said, "I would probably veer on the side
of not supporting that type of legislation."
