Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said David Richter, who
represents Chez Paree, came to his office Thursday and informed him the
10-week tournament is proceeding as planned today.
"My stance hasn't changed, and the state's stance hasn't changed,"
Wilber told Richter.
The Department of Inspections and Appeals and Wilber take different
positions on the matter. The DIA sees the
Texas Holdem poker tournament as a violation of the state's
gambling law, where Wilber doesn't.
In a letter to the county attorney, the Department of Inspections and
Appeals said his office has the authority to institute on action
blocking the tournament. To date, no action has been taken.
"My job is to enforce the laws written, not rewrite them," Wilber
said. "I don't see any difference between a
Texas Holdem poker tournament and a stock car race."
David Werning, DIA's public information officer, wrote in an e-mail
that the department has no further comment at this time.
While Wilber doesn't see any criminal violations, he did make it
clear if the tournament is held "in a manner other than what was
represented," he will look into the matter.
If Wilber were to end up investigating the tournament he said it
would, at best, result in a misdemeanor charge.
Not that Wilber wouldn't file on a misdemeanor, but he said, "I won't
do so if there is a lack of probable cause."
Wilber welcomes the state looking into the matter and proceeding with
any charges.
Citing an ever-increasing workload at his office, he said, "If the
Attorney General wants to prosecute a misdemeanor, be my guest."
