TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

Owners of such establishments are concerned that the ban is preventing them from cashing in on the poker game that has become a national craze. Poker is allowed nearby cities, including Eugene, Junction City, Creswell, Oakridge and Veneta.

The variation of seven-card stud is so popular in those cities that games can be found at taverns, clubs and nightspots just about any night of the week.

Springfield has forbidden social gambling since 1994, following raids at a number of establishments that uncovered several rule violations and some outright cheating.

"I think it's unfair Springfield doesn't have the option to run social games," said Christine Lundberg, a city councilwoman and the owner of the Snappy Service Cafe. She said the inability to host the poker tournaments puts businesses in the city of 55,000 at a disadvantage.

"Any popular activity that is limited because of an ordinance or (because of a) lack of an ordinance is a detriment, especially to small business," she said.

The City Council will discuss the proposal this week.

State laws ban casino gambling other than state-run lottery games, but lawmakers in the 1980s granted cities and counties the authority to permit social gambling under certain rules.

Back then, everyone wanted to play blackjack, and the ordinance was tailored to that game. State rules prohibit a house bank and paid dealers. The laws also require the deal to rotate among players, and only players can profit from the game.

The ordinance awaiting council action comes with safeguards to prevent card sharps from taking advantage of poker players, said Joel Pomerantz, a regional representative for the Oregon Restaurant Association who helped write the draft ordinance.

"We tried to suggest an ordinance that the Springfield City Council could agree upon to allow these games, but with some pretty strict monitoring," Pomerantz said. "We wanted to make sure the house takes nothing from the games and make sure the games are fair."

Texas holdem, unlike blackjack, doesn't require a bank. Players pay a "buy-in" amount that lets them get a certain amount of chips and then wager with the chips instead of money. Tournament play usually involves several tables, and players play until only one person remains. The buy-in cash is then awarded as prize money to the top finishers.

The Springfield ordinance would allow only Texas holdem tournaments, not other social gambling.