House approves charity poker bill Baldacci signing law an uncertainty

AUGUSTA – The Maine House has overwhelmingly approved a bill to allow charities to raise money by holding high-stakes poker games – a measure that backers say legalizes and regulates gambling activity already going on under the radar in many social clubs and charities.

After House members voted 120-25 Tuesday in favor of the so-called Texas Hold ‘Em bill, the Senate referred it to the Appropriations Committee for review because it adds three staff positions to the Department of Public Safety.

It remained unclear whether Gov. John Baldacci would sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Gubernatorial spokesman Lynn Kippax reiterated Baldacci’s opposition to the expansion of gambling in Maine and said he was undecided on the measure.

The bill would allow charities to apply for a poker license once every two months. The maximum entry fee for the games would be $100 per person, no more than 100 people would be able to play at a time, and 75 percent of the money raised would be given to charity.

“There are very strict limits on it,” said Sen. Kenneth Gagnon, D-Waterville. “Most charitable organizations are using the funds for charitable work.”

Current law restricts bets to $1 per chance and doesn’t allow the higher limits that are part of the appeal of Texas Hold ‘Em, said Lt. Patrick Fleming, director of the Department of Public Safety’s special investigations unit.

Fleming said his unit has received many calls from groups that want to hold such tournaments. He said the three additional employees called for in the bill would allow his unit to process requests for tournaments and randomly check compliance.

“We would have to see what the popularity of this is,” he said. “It could come out quickly and die off.”

Last year, Augusta’s Le Club Calumet had to cancel a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament after Fleming’s department reminded clubs of the $1 a hand restriction.

Club president Harry Roy said Le Club Calumet is hoping the bill passes so it can resume fund raising for local schools, children’s cancer funds and Special Olympics.

Participants in card tournaments want to play the hot games, he said, and Texas Hold ‘Em is the one to play right now.

“When it’s popular, they tend to play a lot more,” Roy said.