Sen. Kleis sponsors bill attempting to clarify state law on card games including Texas Hold'em

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Maybe David Bischoff will get his poker chips back.

Last summer, Bischoff, owner of the Granite Bowl bowling alley in St. Cloud, had his business raided by officers from the Department of Public Safety's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.

Bischoff had been sponsoring a Texas Hold'em tournament -- a popular form of poker seen on television -- and had been warned by Public Safety officials he was breaking the law, said Bischoff.

But Bischoff checked with three attorneys and they told him he wasn't breaking the law, said Bischoff.

At any rate, Bischoff's business was raided, though a Stearns County Attorney declined to press charges.

"As of right now, I have not gotten my poker chips back from the State of Minnesota," said Bischoff, speaking at a Capitol press conference Wednesday (Jan. 12).

Sen. Dave Kleis (right), R-St. Cloud, thinks a tweak of state law is necessary to clear up the confusion. Kleis is proposing a bill to add Texas Hold'em tournaments to the list of games of chance allowed under state law -- games like cribbage, bridge, gin and whist.

These games may be played as long as the sponsor derives no direct financial benefit and the sum of all prizes awarded does not top $200.

"This should be very simple," said Kleis. "This simple, common sense bill will bring some much needed clarity to current Minnesota law," he said.

His legislation, Kleis explained, does not fall under state law dealing with gambling, so he doesn't expect the bill to become a pawn in the gambling debate.

Although state law does not place limits on the age of card players, Kleis noted the locality of where the tournaments are held -- a bar, for instance -- does set limits.

Texas Hold'em tournaments are popular among young people, but Kleis defended the card game as having value beyond potential pots. "You use a lot of math, and there's a lot of skill involved," said Kleis.

Playing cards among his colleagues is popular -- they use per diem chips, joked Kleis.

At present, Kleis's bill has no companion bill in the House.