Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Wyoming poker fans are one hand closer to the return of "social" poker games
to state bars and restaurants. A House committee is backing a bill that
would allow friendly poker circles to play games in public establishments.
The Senate has already approved the legislation. Attorney General Pat Crank
effectively banned poker games from bars and restaurants in 2004. Crank says
the games are illegal because they allow establishments to profit from
gambling, even if the profit just comes from people buying drinks. The
measure would NOT permit establishments to sponsor tournaments between
strangers. The Wyoming State Liquor Association is backing the bill. The
group's executive director Mike Moser said the law does NOT expand gambling
in the state. He says it just provides clarification of the state's
policies. The bill now moves to the full House.