BETTING AT THE BAR: PUB POKER PROCEEDS

By MARKUS ERMISCH Staff reporter Nov 15 2006 http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Poker's increasing popularity has led the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) to allow for-profit games in five bars and legions in the province.
Kamloops' Grasshopper Bar and Grill is participating in the six-moth pilot program, and the first 10-person poker tournament will get underway this week. "People are intrigued with the game," said Grasshopper owner Art Marcyniuk. "All the free countries are into it." He said the registration papers were mailed off last week, and he is now waiting to have dealers registered. B.C. Lotteries' decision to sanction poker games in a limited way gives the blessing to a situation that has been going on without the government's nod. BCLC spokeswoman Robin Cook said betting games are illegal unless profits go to charity. The popularity of poker - the game is featured on television and can readily be played online - was one motivating factor for B.C. Lotteries to engage in the pilot. The fact that poker tourneys have been played illegally was another. "It has been going on," Cook conceded. If the pilot project is extended, and for-profit poker games are legalized across the province, B.C. Lotteries has a chance to protect the integrity of the game and to ensure that proceeds will be paid to charities. In sanctioning poker games, B.C. Lotteries is also giving in to repeated requests to do so. Over the past months, Cook said, many people have contacted the Crown corporation, asking that poker games be legalized. Success of the pilot project, Cook said, will be judged based on the feedback of the participating bars and legions. At this time, there are no plans to extend the project to betting games other than poker. At the Grasshopper Pub, participants have to pay a $20 entry fee. The winner of the tournament takes $140, second place wins $40. The remaining $20 is paid to the house for the licence fee. The Grasshopper is the only bar in the Interior to participate in the pilot. The other establishments are in the Lower Mainland and in Victoria.