Poker Players Lose Battle For Seized JackpotPlayers Fail To Get £23,700 Returned Following Police Raid On Christmas Poker Classic |
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Two years following a raid on Derry’s River Club’s Christmas Jackpot Poker Classic, 38 poker players took to the Magistrate’s Court in Londonderry in an attempt to get back just over £23,700 in jackpot money, which was seized by the police.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, District Judge Barney McElholm said proven ownership of the money was needed from the poker players as it was found “in pots and pools” during the raid in December, 2009. McElholm said the rules of the poker classic were unclear and the tournament was “clearly illegal” under Gaming and Lottery laws.
The money will be kept in a Home Office account under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Last year, police in Northern Ireland warned pub poker organisers over the size and scale of their tournaments. Inspector Roy Robinson said that the maximum entry fee for events of this type were £3 and prizes should not exceed £300 saying with all proceeds after expenses going to charity and the players made aware of which charities will benefit.
In February of this year, Dr. Alex Attwood, the Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Assembly, as a response to the growing popularity of the game there. The review presented an opportunity to consider an easing of the current restrictions to permit registered clubs and licensed premises to offer poker, bingo and other equal chance games, subject to limits on stakes and prizes.
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