Poker in the News

Approximately 83 people were arrested Sunday at a Texas City bar that was sponsoring a $20 buy-in poker tournament. The owner of the bar, Frank Skaggs, was charged with a class A misdemeanor of operating a gambling place.

Skaggs said he visited with Cpl. Charles Totty, the community service officer with the police department, and with authorities at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to discuss the legality of the tournament a week or two before it began. Neither the police department or the ABC gave him a definitive answer on the tournament's legality.

The more than 80 players in the tournament were each charged with class C misdemeanors and will have to pay a $183 fine.

Skagg's mentions in one of the interviews that he's never had a problem with pool tournaments. Which raises an interesting question--- are pool tournaments illegal as well? Fishing tournaments? Darts?

Oh, and the club's name was "Shenanigan's". I can't help but think of the movie Super-Troopers whenever I hear shenanigans... evil shenanigans.
ABC13.com: Former mayoral candidate behind bars following poker tournament

Galveston County Daily News: Club owner thought tourney was legal

83 face fines in gambling raid of nightclub