For charity or not, poker tournaments outside of casinos remain
illegal in Louisiana today after a bill failed to pass the House by two
votes Monday.
Rep. Warren Triche sponsored House Bill 1149. It
would have allowed bars and restaurants to hold a charity poker
tournaments in their establishments once a week, provided they didn't
make any money directly off the tournaments.
The House voted
51-45 for Triche's bill. The legislation needed 53 votes to pass.
Triche can bring the legislation up again later this session.
Gov.
Kathleen Blanco has publicly promised that she’d veto any bill that
expands gambling in her state. Besides the charity poker bill, other
lawmakers are working to increase the number of video poker machines at
Louisiana truck stops. Blanco said she considers the charity poker bill
an expansion of gambling.
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