Charity Poker Tournaments May Come to Louisiana

Charity poker took a step forward in Louisiana yesterday.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Warren Triche that would allow bars and restaurants in the state to hold one poker tournament a week - as long as the house doesn't receive a cut - made it through the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.

It didn't make it through committee without changes to the original bill, though. Rep. Danny Martiny amended the bill by prohibiting the bars to provide any gaming supplies, including chips and cards, and from advertising the events.

Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco vowed to veto any expansion of her state's gambling rules by the house a few weeks ago and told a television news station that the bill "feels" like an expansion of gambling to her.

Triche feels that Blanco is overstepping her legislative boundaries by making the comments. Blanco even sent a lawyer to the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee hearing to remind lawmakers about her promise. The move was good enough to make two lawmakers remove their bills from committee consideration. The bills would expand video poker at truck stops in the state.

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