Louisiana House Rejects Poker Bill

A bill in Louisiana that would allow tournament poker to be spread by establishments throughout the state failed to make it through the House yesterday afternoon. The House voted 48 to 46 against the bill, with 10 members absent. The bill needed 53 votes to be sent to Governor Kathleen Blanco, who opposes any kind of gaming expansion in her state.

The same exact bill failed last year by two votes.

The bill's sponsor, Representative Warren Triche, has one more chance to get his bill through the House. He said if the 10 absent members were present yesterday, it would have passed and he has full confidence that it will be approved the next time it reaches the floor.

The bill would' hae have allowed establishments licensed to sell alcohol to run Texas hold'em tournaments one night a week. By law, the bar's owners would not be allowed to charge juice on the tourneys. The tourneys would be used to bring people into the establishments on slow nights.

"This would give them one night of opportunity to get people into their establishments," Triche said.

Triche plans on bringing his bill to a vote again within several weeks.

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