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Copyright © 2006 CBC News
January 19, 2006
HEADLINE:
Charities want poker fundraising to be legal
Body:
Non-profit groups in New Brunswick are asking the province to
legalize charitable poker
tournaments.
Unregulated gambling is a criminal offence, but poker players
don't have any trouble finding a game. At least two bars in Saint
John are openly advertising poker tournaments.
Saint John police officers will investigate complaints about
illegal gambling but Sgt. Pat Bonner says they haven't received
any. "We get other interests that really capture us more
than someone playing cards."
Meanwhile, Codiac RCMP are investigating complaints about Texas
Hold'em poker games in bars in the Moncton area, and anyone who
organizes a poker tournament in Fredericton can expect a visit
from the city police.
This uneven enforcement is what bothers Paul Wentzell of the
United Commercial Travellers service club. "We believe that's
creating an unlevel playing field for charities, and the way to
solve this issue is to have the province add poker to their gaming
regulations just like they do with bingo and other games of chance
so that if you wanted to have a charity poker
tournament you could."
The Canadian Red Cross last week got $21,000 for hurricane relief
from a Texas Hold'em
tournament in Moncton.
Red Cross official Cathie Desborough would like to see the province
clear the air on the validity of poker for charity fundraising.
"We are the recipients of donations from the Atlantic Lottery
Corporation and other casinos," she pointed out.
The province says it is aware of the issue and is reviewing its
gaming policy.
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