Monday, November 14, 2005

Press-Telegram - News-"Poker a popular fund-raiser, but it's illegal, for now (CALIFORNIA)

Press-Telegram - News: "Poker a popular fund-raiser, but it's illegal, for now
By Josh Kleinbaum, Staff writer

Churches, school boosters and other nonprofit groups are calling the government's bluff, raising thousands of dollars through wildly popular Texas Hold Em poker tournaments that state officials say are illegal.

Two years into the nation's no-limit poker craze, organizations have found that tournaments are easy and more profitable than bake sales, car washes or other types of fund-raisers.

The baseball team from West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch made $12,000 in October, for instance, while the Make-a-Wish Foundation brought in a whopping $60,000 in an August tournament hosted by Kings star Luc Robitaille.

But the state attorney general's office says most charity poker tournaments are illegal, and the organizer could face a year in jail or a $5,000 fine for the misdemeanor violation."

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