Maryland Might Make Poker Home Games LegalMeasures Seek To Remove Potential Criminal Penalties |
|
A pair of bills in Maryland aim to decriminalize hosting and/or playing in poker home games.
Senate Bill 184 comes from Sen. Nancy King, while House Bill 59 is from Delegate Kirill Reznik. Both are Democrats.
The proposal would allow a person to run a home game that is based on chance or skill involving betting for real money. It would prohibit a person from conducting a home game involving a player’s use of an electronic device that connects to the Internet for the purpose of placing bets.
Hosting a poker game would no longer be punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine and jail time. The criminal statute is not strictly enforced, however. Some poker pros have talked openly about private poker games they’ve played in within Maryland’s borders.
Additionally, a home game host couldn’t benefit financially in any way, directly or indirectly, “other than winnings accrued by participating as a player in a game,” the bill said.
More than two dozen lawmakers are listed as sponsors of the proposed law changes.
Both bills had hearings this month.
“What makes a casino a casino is that a cut of the winnings is saved for the house,” Reznik said at the House Ways and Means Committee Thursday, according to Capital News Service. “The laws are so restrictive now that a person’s home is deemed a casino.”
If enacted, the law changed would go into effect in October.
Maryland recently saw the authorization of live dealer table games at its casinos. The home game bill apparently is not opposed by the casino operations in the state.
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
