High-stakes poker another step toward full-fledged casino

A bill that would allow nonprofit organizations to hold high-stakes poker games six times a year is quietly and quickly working its way through the Maine Legislature.

It passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday and could be presented to the Senate within days.

The Senate should reject the bill. If it does not, Gov. John E. Baldacci should veto it.

The bill is yet another effort to bring more gambling to Maine.

Past proposals have said gambling would aid schools, help pay for medicine for senior citizens, save harness racing or benefit Maine's Indian tribes. This time, supporters are trying to tie the gambling plan as a way to aid charities.

The ploy worked well in the House of Representatives, which passed the bill 120-25.

The Senate should be wiser and reject the bill.

Make no mistake. This bill is not about a friendly neighborhood poker game at the local veterans' hall. This is high-stakes gambling, where the cost to play would be up to $100 and the total stake could reach $10,000.

That is real money and brings real problems, including gambling addiction that can lead to crime. There is little doubt that games such as this will attract outside gamblers eager to fleece less-experienced local players.

The bill would permit nonprofit organizations to hold six such poker nights every year. Considering the number of eligible organizations, the result would be games in nearly every community every weekend. There would be no need to find a casino. The casino would find you wherever you live.

The bill requires that 75 percent of the money raised at these poker events would go to charity. That is no justification for more gambling. Nonprofit organizations in Maine have long supported many charities without resort to high-stakes gambling. They can continue to do so when this bill is defeated.

Approval of this proposal would be another step toward a full-fledged casino in Maine.

Gambling proponents, perhaps working with the state's Indian tribes, would argue -- with some justification -- that it is unfair to allow poker everywhere, off-track betting and slot machines at the racino in Bangor while refusing to permit slot machines in casinos operated by the tribes.

Gambling forces understand the value of this incremental approach in their casino campaigns. Legislators should not overlook it.

This unwise gambling plan should be killed or vetoed.