Includes charity poker as a game of chance that charitable organizations may conduct at local option and provides regulation thereof

BILL NUMBER:S2550

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to charity poker

Purpose

This bill authorizes charitable organizations to conduct poker games that are similar to poker games conducted on television such as "Celebrity Poker", the "Texas Hold 'em Tournament", and "ESPN World Series of Poker".

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends General Municipal Law section 186(3) to add charity poker as an authorized games of chance.

Section 2: Amends General Municipal Law section 186 by adding three new subdivisions to define Charity Poker. "Charity Poker" shall mean playing poker in a tournament style so that it is played like other games of chance games which are legal under the New York State Constitution. In such tournament, the admission fee shall be no more than $50. Each player may be-issued poker chips, but such chips will be of no monetary value. The chips may be used to determine which individual has won an individual hand, series of poker games or the ultimate winner of the tournament. The grand prize for any tournament shall be no more than $2,000, which is the same statutory limit set for bingo winnings.

Section 3 - 10: These sections amend the General Municipal Law to add technical changes that need to authorize the conduct of charitable poker as a new games of chance.

Section 11: Effective Date

Existing law

Under current law, roulette, black jack, craps, and bell jars are legal games of chance that can be conducted by charitable organizations. However, poker games, played in a tournament style, are not defined under the law as an authorized games of chance.

Justification

The popularity of playing poker in homes has increased recently due to the broadcast of television shows such as "Celebrity Poker", "Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament, and ESPN World Series of Poker". This bill allows charitable organizations to conduct similar tournaments at Veteran, Fraternal Benevolent Organization, and church halls for the entertainment of its members and to raise funds for the support of their charitable activities.

Under current law, such poker games are not an authorized game of chance. The bill does place limits on the amount of money that can be bet on such games and the prizes that can be won.

With the expansion of other gaming venues in this State and the prohibition of smoking in all indoor areas open to the public, the

amount of money generated by games of chance operations to support various charitable organizations has declined by approximately 30 percent since 2000. Enacting this bill will give our State's charitable organizations another tool in which to raise much needed money to support their worthwhile charitable purposes.

The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the playing of the game of poker in a tournament style. However, it is done in a way that encourages fun and social fellowship, but does not allow for any high stakes poker games that can increase the incidence of compulsive gambling habits or adversely affect family finances.

Legislative history

S421-A of 2007/2008 S3002-A of 2005/2006

Fiscal implications

None.

Local fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundredth and eightieth day after it shall have become law.