Charitable Poker Events attacked

If you thought playing poker for charity was a win-win situation, think again – some say it's getting out of hand. Check-out the full story here in our poker news area.

Playing poker for charity seems like the ultimate way to spend your time – doing both something you love and giving to those in need. And yet while this is true for all those who partake in charity poker events, their recent boom has caused controversy among standard gambling facilities.

According to the Director of Michigan State's Charitable Gambling Division, the amount of Millionaire part Licenses that were granted in the year 2008 were more than four times the amount granted in 2004. Over 120 venues in Michigan are now hosting charitable poker events, and the profits raised in 2008 exceeded the $10 million mark.

Charity organizers have stated that poker events are one of the most efficient ways of fund-raising. Not only does the charity have to receive a minimum of only 50% of gross profits, but the venue also makes significant profit in most cases. The license required for holding a charitable poker event is obtained easily from the Michigan Lottery Charitable Gaming Division.

Those working in the division believe that charitable poker events are "getting a little out of control", says Rick Kalm, Executive Director of the State Gaming Control Board. One of the main problems with the charitable poker 'epidemic' is that advertising of the events is being carried out by the venue and not the licensed charity, which does not comply with the Board's rules. Additionally, Kalm says that the businesses hosting the events should be licensed along with the charities themselves prior to doing so.

Similarly, gambling legislators agree that due to the lack of regulation of charitable poker, facilitators of the events are taking advantage. Tom McMillin, State Representative of R-Rochester Hills, has already formalized and submitted a legislation that would forbid venues from hosting more than one 4-day charitable poker event each month.

On the flip-side, poker players themselves are saying that charitable events allow them to play more poker for longer (whilst also donating to worthy causes, of course), due to the lower buy-ins than those offered at land-based casinos. As Michael Hurst of Munroe told reporters, casinos have "got too expensive". As one particular business owner commented, "I don't think the government's ever been successful in legislating morality!"