One word. Derringer.
Posted on 02/15/2005 8:02:09 AM PST by kahoutek
HARTFORD — Restaurants in the state might be able to cash in on poker's popularity under one legislator's proposal. The bill would allow restaurants to sponsor poker and other card games or tournaments to draw customers. The establishments could use the card games only as a way to attract new customers and not for direct profit.
"It's a good way to get customers," said Jim Farrel, spokesman for the Connecticut Restaurant Association that supports the legislation. "The restaurants won't be benefiting from the gambling, but will be benefiting from new people coming in. As we know, poker is now a trendy thing."
The card game has become trendy beyond its traditional smoke-filled-room image, as world poker championship tournaments appear on television and celebrities play on a weekly program.
Rep. Brian O'Connor, D-Westbrook, got the idea to propose the bill after the state issued a cease and desist order to several New Haven-area bars that sponsored poker tournaments. He said it would be reasonable to allow card games for recreation with limited gambling.
"This could offset other losses restaurants and bars have from the smoking ban," O'Connor said. "Poker games happen in individual homes. At least this is a way it could be more regulated."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.newstimes.com ...
ping to you
What fun is poker without a good cigar. I'm staying home. It's cheaper, anyway
What fun is poker unles you can bring along your six shooter...
Thanks for the ping. I have to think about this for a bit.
Read POKER TAX.
Morally and logically speaking, this makes no sense.
HARTFORD POLS:Let's ban smoking, which is in the best interest of the public at large and legalize gambling.
Huh?
You know the restaurants will implement a house rake that is most likely absurd.
No, it specifically says they can not profit from the poker.
Poker in restruants? Whats next? Cheap woman and whiskey?
Why not just turn everywhere into a dive and tax the sh*t out of it for the good of the State?
Does anyone know how this recent poker craze got started? I can't remember which of the "reality" poker shows was first. It's reached the point where my local Barnes & Noble has a whole special display for the game.
"Rounders."
One word. Derringer.
I believe the current "craze" began a couple of years ago when ESPN began broadcasting the World Series of Poker. By having a camera hidden so as to show the player's hole cards, the TV audience was able to follow the strategy and play of the contestants and it turned out to be very popular.
I think your tag line says it all.
I don't think the whores in Hartford could be induced to leave..........
Hmmmmmmm. On the other hand.......
Our Government run amok. It's legal if the state says so.
This is from The Onion, right? You know the poker fad is peaking when lawmakers are coming up with stupid ideas like this.
Not sure how this helps restaurants. Have you seen some of the poker players in Vegas? Last people I'd want to be with in a restaurant. When I play cards, the last thing I want is other people munching away at the table. And it's not like I'd drop in for a few hands while waiting for my dinner to be ready. If I'm playing, it's for some extended period of time. I could just see me saying to my wife, 'let's go to dinner with the kids so Daddy can gamble instead of having to speak to you ingrates. Let's take two cars.' If food and gambling mixed well, Vegas would have the cocktail waitresses bringing around sandwiches and buffalo wings. It seems that all this is going to do is use up real estate inside the establishments. Gamblers would come in, grab a drink, play for a few hours, grab another drink on the way out. Not an efficient use of space. If a restaurant needs gambling to drum up business, it probably tells you something about their food.
IMHO, this is more about generating revenue for the state than 'allowing' gambling.
If you are determined to post without reading the article, at least read the first paragraph.
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