The old saying goes ... you have to know when to hold'em and know when to fold'em.
This month the state's Attorney General's office told area bars and restaurants that it is time to fold.
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has issued a memo to all state restaurants and bars that the popular Texas Hold' Em Poker games, which have sprung up over the last year on national television and as tournaments in area establishments, are illegal and must stop. According to Blumenthal, the games violate several state statutes concerning sponsored gambling and infringe on agreements the state has with the Mohegan and Foxwoods Casino's.
"We don't want to be draconian or unfair with anyone but the law prohibits these kinds of poker nights," said Blumenthal. "At this stage, we want to talk to the bar and restaurant owners and discuss the issue of legality."
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Poker gained in popularity over the last year after ESPN's World Series of Poker drew large audiences and sparked mainstream interest in the game. As many as 50 restaurants in Connecticut started a poker night, usually charging an entry fee to play and awarding a certain amount of money to players who finished in the top of the competition.
SBC Restaurant and Brewery in Branford began a Texas Hold 'Em game on Tuesday nights in January and the game quickly drew a large following. Restaurant owner David Rutigliano said that the bar would have as many as 100 people sign up to play, with as many as 75 people playing at one time.
"Tuesday's are usually a slow night so this brought in business on a night we didn't make a lot of money," Rutigliano explained.
The restaurant charged a $20 entry fee with the proceeds given to the top three people in the tournament.
Rutigliano stated that he got in contact with the state before ever going forward with the night and was told that they did not believe the game violated any state laws. Now, however, it seems the state has reversed its position and Rutigliano wants to know why.
"If it is illegal I want to know why?" Rutigliano said. "We were given bad information; we were told it was legal. It's not like we went off and just decided to start a game on our own. We checked it out first. I mean, I am hosting basically a house game here; I am not getting a dime out of it. Why is this any different than a dart tournament or an office pool?"
SBC does not require a drink minimum or take any of the money from the eventual pot, but other establishments have required players to buy a certain amount of food or drink in order to play. Also, according to Rutigliano, several establishments advertised their poker nights, which is a direct violation of state statutes that prohibit gambling to be advertised.
"I think it brought attention to the game. I think some people saw that and decided to run with it," said Rutigliano.
SBC has not cancelled its poker night as of yet since Rutigliano has not received a formal request to cease. Other establishments, however, such as Branford Cue and Brew, which was scheduled to begin its poker night last Sunday, have decided to cancel.
Representatives for Eli on Whitney's in Hamden have already stated that they will look into legal action against the state if they are forced to discontinue what had become one of the more popular games in the state. Rutigliano may do the same.
"I have lawyers looking into it already," Rutigliano said. "I think this is just another in the long line of abuses perpetrated on restaurants in Connecticut this past year. It is just another way for them to hurt owners."
The closure of the game comes on the heals of the state instituting a smoking ban for all restaurants and bars in April and raising the employee's minimum wage. Rutigliano, who owns two other restaurants in Fairfield and Stamford, claims that his business is down 14 percent and the poker night was a good way to make up for those losses.
"I don't have any interest in being in the casino business," Rutigliano said. "I want to be in the restaurant business. I want to sell drinks and food. That is all I want to do. This was a creative way to compensate for the losses we have seen and unfortunately we will be losing that."
Source: John Rook, Branford Review
