Review Gambling Rules in W.Va.
For the News-Register"Casino nights" formerly held by many community organizations in West Virginia to raise money for worthy causes, are illegal, the state Lottery Commission has ruled. But a poker tournament sponsored by the West Virginia Radio Corp. - a private business whose interest in the event is purely commercial - is all right.
What's wrong with this picture? Plenty, of course. It is one more reason why state legislators should take another look at laws that regulate gambling in our state.
When racetracks were permitted to offer table gambling, as three are doing, lawmakers wrote the statute in a manner making it illegal for anyone but the tracks to offer table gambling such as poker, blackjack, roulette, etc.
Community organizations that had used "casino nights" featuring such games to raise money have been advised by the Lottery Commission that they should cease doing so.
At first, the prohibition seemed to apply to the radio company's poker tournament. When contacted by this newspaper, Lottery Commission attorney John Melton said the event was illegal.
A day later, however, law enforcement's position had changed. It was learned that no entry fee was being charged for the poker tournament and, though prizes were being offered, players were not risking their own money to compete. That made the event perfectly legal, according to the Lottery Commission.
Confusion over the tournament - and bans against limited use of games of chance by community organizations - make it clear that the law needs to be given another look. Frankly, we see no harm in allowing an occasional "casino night" to support worthy causes. And obviously, provisions in the law needed to be clarified.
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cube2008
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07-21-08 11:10 AM
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A couple of quick points: A- The lottery has no enforcement - for something to be a lottery it is prize, chance and consideration. No consideration is in this promotion. It was free to enter and play. B- The reports and this newspapers lack of finding the facts, not to mention an politican is a disgrace to the county and this paper. C- If the legislator wants to enforce the 70 year old law on the books. Please do, start but knocking on every door in OHIO county where the resident has purchased a poker table, chips or card at WalMart. The goverment coming into our house, see how long that lasts. D - Please feel free to go after every poker run in OHIO county that does have the three elements of Lottery - Consideration (entry fee) chance (use of cards) prize (the winner of the poker run recieves money. The problem with most of our state is we go off half cocked and do not take the time to think things through. This company or radio or whatever did.
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atoddh
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07-21-08 4:09 AM
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The Editor make a good point.Because the law is not clear,Melton avoided a confrontation over the Snowshoe event.The spirt of the law - but not letter - suggests table games be confined to the designated venues.The language in the law needs to be refined. Senator Kessler has made an excellent proposal to reduce the number of slot parlors with more machines per venue. This should be considered as well.The numerous small venues have become a blight.
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steelercrazy
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07-20-08 2:33 PM
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The only confusion in this matter was the fact that the Intell/News-Register decided to make an issue of the Snowshoe event, and that John Melton and Andy McKenzie wrongly interpreted state code. The paper and those persons are obviously clueless about the gambling code in 61-10 of West Virginia State Code. The statement in this editorial that, "law enforcement's position had changed" is a bold-faced lie. Pocahontas County Prosecutor Walt Weiford examined the specifics of the event when informed of it by the Intell/NR. He rightly ruled that the event was legal since no monies had been put up by the contestants to enter the tournament. His mind and the mind of Pocahontos County authorities never changed, and they are the responsible party to enforce this code. Why would the Intell/NR editorial board make up such a statement?
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