Quote:
Originally Posted by 12bigworm81
Jim the reason poker exists in NH is it takes advantage of rules created for charities. These rules were created to allow monte carlo and bingo type fundraisers years ago.
Once poker took off 12+ years ago it grew. As it grew the one part that hasn't change is this was suppose to be about charities raising money. Gambling as a standalone has been voted down several times.
So the choice is no gambling, or operate within current laws that permit charities to have gaming.
Obviously as poker players and operators it would be better if poker became legal without charities. That isn't even close to being on the radar.
You and I just think about this very differently.
Public poker would exist in NH without the state government. It would exist because people would want to play, businesspeople would want to make money, and the two interests would converge.
It didn't exist for a long time because the state claims some ludicrous, puritanical authority to dictate that adults can't voluntarily play a game for money on private property.
Now, instead of outright banning poker rooms (and bingo halls, and monte carlo nights, etc.), they let them operate as long as the owners kick a fat piece up to the
don and his associates state and its approved list of nonprofits. If you refuse, they will ultimately send their
wiseguys agents to commit acts of violence, theft, and/or destruction against you.
If anyone else were doing this, it'd be a textbook racket. But since it's the state, people talk about it like it's a force of nature, an edict handed down from Our Supreme Masters—anything but the ongoing robbery that it is.