Sunday, January 14, 2007

The Senate travel committee is supporting a bill that would allow social poker games to occur in bars again. Groups of friends can currently gather to play games such as cribbage in Wyoming bars and restaurants but poker is outlawed. A 2004 opinion from Attorney General Pat Crank says that poker games occurring in bars violate the state's gambling laws. Crank believes those games are illegal because a business could indirectly profit from them. The opinion says even profit solely from derived from selling more beers or coffee violates Wyoming law. Senate travel committee members unanimously support redefining the state policy to allow poker games between friends in public establishments. The committee says the law will NOT permit establishments to sponsor tournaments between strangers.