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Stakes may be too high to hold poker tourneys
Published: 2005-09-15
 By Steve Esack
Of The Morning Call
If you own a bar or run a volunteer firehouse and you're thinking about holding a poker tournament, think again.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said that hosting a poker tournament could violate state gambling laws if the organizer earns money by taking a cut of the pot. At a news conference Wednesday, Morganelli said he was issuing a warning because a half-dozen nonprofits have recently contacted his office to ask if they could legally host a tournament of the popular card game Texas Hold 'Em to raise money.
''I'm just putting a warning out to the public,'' he said. ''There is no [gambling] task force. Gambling is not a top priority because we have drugs and other things going on.''
The American Gaming Association, the casino industry's research and lobbying group in Washington, D.C., conducted a survey this year that showed one in five Americans — 18 percent — played poker in the past year. That is a 50 percent leap from 2004.
Of the 17 states that allow poker in either casinos or card rooms as part of legalized gambling, only Nevada and New Jersey break down their card game revenue by specific games, according to Holly Thomsen, a spokeswoman for the gaming association.
Texas Hold 'Em has become a national sensation. ESPN televises card games. Atlantic City casinos saw poker revenue climb from $36.2 million in 1994 to $52.9 million last year, according to the gaming association. Nevada casinos jumped even higher, from $70.6 million in 1994 to $98.8 million last year, figures show.
''A lot of poker goes on that doesn't fall into our industry because so many people play in their homes,'' Thomsen said.
Pennsylvania's gambling laws allow lottery, bingo, horse racing, small games of chance and slots. Poker tournaments are not authorized.
Morganelli said he was not trying to regulate gambling in the county or in private homes. He said state law does not stop a homeowner from hosting a card game among friends.
But Morganelli said state law could preclude a bar, firehouse or another social club, where liquor is sold, from hosting the tournament because it could turn their establishments into game rooms, which would be a violation of their state liquor licenses. So he said tavern owners and others should be wary of companies that advertise they will organize and host a Texas Hold 'Em tournament in their buildings in exchange for a percentage of the pot.
''In short, the term 'unlawful gambling' means any gambling not specifically authorized by the law,'' Morganelli said.
If anyone has questions about the legality of hosting a tournament, he said, they should contact a private attorney or his office for guidance. The district attorney's office can be reached at 610-559-3020.
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New Domino Association Plans To Emulate Poker's Winning Streak
Published: 2005-09-17
 Professional Domino Association kicks-off their inaugural tournament season with a celebrity/seeding tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 22, 2005.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2005 -- The very mention of the word dominoes evokes images of smoky-filled backrooms or family barbecues. Not anymore! With Poker’s popularity surging, the Professional Domino Association™ (PDA) anticipates the same response and exposure for their professional domino tournaments and players.
"For the first time in history, professional domino players have a league to call their own," says Commissioner Jay King, and co-founder of the R&B group Club Nouveau. "The PDA Tournaments are an exciting forum for domino players to test their skills. The PDA tournaments will give professional domino players a chance to earn an income while doing what they love."
Created by Jay King and Lanz Alexander, the PDA is dedicated to supporting professional domino players across the country. The PDA tournaments will provide a competitive platform for professional players, and establish standard rules of the game. The PDA will produce a domino television series called "The Domino Cafe," a host of celebrity domino tournaments and a non-professional domino tournament league.
The PDA’s first event, a pre-season PDA Seeding Tournament, will take place at the Westin Los Angeles Hotel in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, October 22, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Similar to the Professional Golf Association ranking system, the seeding tournament will allow players to accumulate ranking points and an automatic buy-in before the official season begins. 1988 World Championship Domino Player Travis Newsome has joined the ranks celebrities confirmed to compete. Anthony Anderson (Hustle and Flow), Datari (Supermodel and Creator and Executive Producer of BET’s Ultimate Hustler), Lil’ Zane (Recoding Artist), Chris Reed (Kid of recording duo Kid and Play), Rodney O (Recording Artist), Garland Spencer (You Got Served), and Kevin Black (VP of Interscope Records) have also signed up to show their domino playing skills. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top eight players, with $5,000 going to first-prize winner.
The registration fee for the PDA’s seeding tournament is $300. PDA Tournament Registration and membership information is available on the PDA Web site, located at www.prodominoassociation.com. Only 128 of the best domino players are allowed to compete in a tournament. Spectators are invited to watch the tournament in the PDA Viewing Room. General admission is $15. Registrations for the PDA tournaments are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The official PDA Tournament season kicks off in February of 2006 and extends thru August of 2006. The PDA will host 12 high-stakes tournaments in several major cities throughout the country; capping off the season with the PDA National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. The amount awarded for each tournament is $100,000, with $25,000 going to the first-prize winner. In addition to cash prizes, first place winners receive waived registration fees, free travel and hotel accommodations.
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