AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker TITLE: Poker Players Show Support at Hearing for Legal Texas Poker DATE: 7:37 AM ----- BODY: A historic event took place on Tuesday at the State Capitol in Austin, TX,
as a group of professional poker players, poker lobbyists, and even mere
poker enthusiasts gathered before the Texas Committee on Licensing and
Administrative Procedures to show their support for HB-3186, proposed
legislation that, if passed, would both legalize and regulate the game of
poker within the state of Texas. Currently, the game of poker can be legally
played, even for money, but it must be done in a private residence and no
one can profit off of the game but the players. This means there can be no
money taken out of any pots for any reason by anyone other than the players,
and makes running a public card room illegal. This bill seeks to change all
of that. Clonie Gowen, professional poker player, was perhaps the most
widely-recognized player on-hand to witness before the committee. Erick
Lindgren, a professional poker player with almost $5,000,000 in poker
tournament wins, was also scheduled to appear but had to cancel at the last
minute due to outstanding circumstances. "As a professional poker player I
made over $500,000 last year playing poker," said Clonie Gowen to a
committee that seemed surprised to hear such a large number. "We want just
really want [poker] controlled and regulated, so that everyone, like
myself - I'm a mother of two children - could have a safe environment to be
able to play poker." Lyle Berman, professional player and Chairman of the
Board for the wildly-successful World Poker Tour, was also on hand to show
his support for the bill, and seemed to indicate that Texas could be a
potential host for WPT tournaments if the bill were passed. "If poker were
legal in Texas," said Berman. "It would be a great stop for the World Poker
Tour events, which create a large amount of associated economic activity."
The bill, which would require 76 votes to become law if it reaches the
Senate floor, makes mention of where the money allocated from the regulated
games would go. A minimum of 50% would go to programs designed to aid the
homeless, with other moneys being set aside for seniors and veterans. More
than sixty people showed up to witness in support of the bill, while only
two signed papers in opposition. Only one of those two spoke before the
committee, Rob Kohler of the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist
General Convention of Texas. Kohler argued that poker is a game of chance,
not skill, and therefore the proposed bill would require an amendment to the
Texas Constitution. --------