Texas Hold ’em craze has filtered to suburban homes where money is won, lost
Standing from his chair, Shelby Johnson throws his cards into the middle of the muck. His normally persistent smile is wiped off of his face. He stalks around the table toward the coat rack to grab his jacket which now reeks of cigarette smoke. His night is done as he walks out the door.
“Did you see that suck out,” Johnson mutters to himself. Most people would utter similar thoughts, if not worse, after losing $3,000 in a matter of 45 minutes.
“What a horrible call,” Johnson said, as he describes his final hand. “We were four-handed, I’m in the big blind and have only one caller. I look down at kings. Short stacked, I move all-in, six times the blind. Small blind calls with a king-six. I had no business losing that hand. Damn sixes. God, what a suck out,” Johnson trails off, perplexed that he just lost two-weeks of pay, and scared of what his fiancee will say when he gets back to his Prior Lake home.
The ugly side of the poker phenomenon is rarely seen. Television has anointed the game of Texas Hold ‘em as the new glamour sport. For those with means, it is a fun hobby. For those without, it can become a dangerous addiction.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has reported an increase in poker related gambling problems since the poker boom a few years ago.
The state of Minnesota is doing it’s part to make the game more accessible to players, having passed a law last year making the game of Texas Hold ‘em legal in commercial establishments.
Since then, there has been an explosion of bars and restaurants offering free poker nights. And that is the caveat - free. A bar can host a game of poker, but it must be free to play for patrons, and the prize pool cannot exceed $200 in a given night.
Doug Forsman, a special agent with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division said that lawmakers were trying to help commercial establishments with the passage of the law allowing poker.
“At the same time though, it was limited,” Forsman said. “It was limited because they didn’t want the social problems that can come with it.”
The poker craze in the state of Minnesota began in 2000 when the state legalized commercial poker. It is organized through the Minnesota Racing Commission and Canterbury Park is the only non-tribal establishment to have commercial poker.
Forsman said that, according to the law, in order to have a card room, you need to have a class A race track and a class B license with the racing commission.
“There was a lot of lobbying on the gaming side,” Forsman said. “Research was also done, looking at what other states offer. The combination of those ultimately put authority under the racing commission.”
Canterbury Park, and other casinos make money in poker with something called the “rake.” Basically, Canterbury Park gets a small portion of each pot that is played. You don’t bet against the house like you do in blackjack, but rather you’re playing the other players at the table with you.
According to Forsman, others are trying to get in on the success that Canterbury Park has had. Forsman said that there is a push underway in Anoka County to get a class A race track with the intention to get a card room.
“It is no secret that Canterbury Park has had an increase in revenue,” Forsman said. “The additional customer support has led to more business.”
The problem for Johnson though, isn’t Canterbury Park, or even tribal casinos. He gambles for higher stakes with folks he has met on line, and heard about through acquaintances.
“I doubt that what we do is legal,” Johnson said. “We get 20 guys sometimes with $2-3,000. I’ve lost all my money, but I’ve also gone home with $15,000 before.”
Johnson suggests that there are a lot of underground games that are more than just friendly basement games with $5 entry fees.
“You can go on the internet and find groups who play for a lot of money,” Johnson said. “I play two or three times a week, and I play for bigger pots than you could ever find at Canterbury or one of the other casinos.”
Johnson isn’t sure though if poker has caused a new kind of gambling problem or not.
“I’m no expert, but I’d say it probably has,” Johnson said. “I just got into poker in the last few years after watching it on TV,” Johnson said. “I imagine there are others in my situation. I shouldn’t play for the money I do, but I can’t help it. It is fun, and there is always a chance I will make money.”
Becky Sechrist, the associate director of the Minnesota Problem Gambling Helpline, said she doesn’t have any evidence that there has been an increase in poker-related gambling problems.
“There is certainly a casino problem,” Sechrist said. “But we have not seen an increase directly from poker.”
Sechrist said that anytime a person calls the help line to seek assistance with their gambling, the operator will ask them what kind of gambling problem they have.
“We don’t have hard facts, or statistics,” Sechrist said. “It is a little surprising, but our speculation is that there hasn’t been a big increase.”
There hasn’t been a big problem either with bars and restaurants breaking the law in terms of the kind of poker games they are running, according to Forsman.
If Forsman does find out a bar is running an illegal game, he’ll contact them either by phone or with a letter, explaining to them that they are breaking the law.
“Most don’t do it intentionally,” Forsman said. “Depending on the circumstances, we’ll take action though.”
Johnson acknowledged that it isn’t bars where he plays his games.
“We met a couple guys at the bar, but we don’t play there,” Johnson said. “We play at a buddy’s house.”
Private, social gambling is exempt from the law, according to Forsman, when it is just a few neighbors or friends and nobody is advertising it or making money by taking a cut of the pot for hosting the poker game.
“When someone starts to advertise it, or if they are taking a cut to make money, then it becomes a commercial endeavor,” Forsman said.
The car ride back to Johnson’s house was solemn. He was in no mood to talk. Admittedly, he was running through what he was going to tell his fiancee in his head.
“Maybe she’ll understand,” Johnson pondered. “I am getting good. Someday I will make it to Vegas to play in tournaments. I love this game.” Johnson said a smile back on his face.
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2005/December/16pokerface.html
“Did you see that suck out,” Johnson mutters to himself. Most people would utter similar thoughts, if not worse, after losing $3,000 in a matter of 45 minutes.
“What a horrible call,” Johnson said, as he describes his final hand. “We were four-handed, I’m in the big blind and have only one caller. I look down at kings. Short stacked, I move all-in, six times the blind. Small blind calls with a king-six. I had no business losing that hand. Damn sixes. God, what a suck out,” Johnson trails off, perplexed that he just lost two-weeks of pay, and scared of what his fiancee will say when he gets back to his Prior Lake home.
The ugly side of the poker phenomenon is rarely seen. Television has anointed the game of Texas Hold ‘em as the new glamour sport. For those with means, it is a fun hobby. For those without, it can become a dangerous addiction.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has reported an increase in poker related gambling problems since the poker boom a few years ago.
The state of Minnesota is doing it’s part to make the game more accessible to players, having passed a law last year making the game of Texas Hold ‘em legal in commercial establishments.
Since then, there has been an explosion of bars and restaurants offering free poker nights. And that is the caveat - free. A bar can host a game of poker, but it must be free to play for patrons, and the prize pool cannot exceed $200 in a given night.
Doug Forsman, a special agent with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division said that lawmakers were trying to help commercial establishments with the passage of the law allowing poker.
“At the same time though, it was limited,” Forsman said. “It was limited because they didn’t want the social problems that can come with it.”
The poker craze in the state of Minnesota began in 2000 when the state legalized commercial poker. It is organized through the Minnesota Racing Commission and Canterbury Park is the only non-tribal establishment to have commercial poker.
Forsman said that, according to the law, in order to have a card room, you need to have a class A race track and a class B license with the racing commission.
“There was a lot of lobbying on the gaming side,” Forsman said. “Research was also done, looking at what other states offer. The combination of those ultimately put authority under the racing commission.”
Canterbury Park, and other casinos make money in poker with something called the “rake.” Basically, Canterbury Park gets a small portion of each pot that is played. You don’t bet against the house like you do in blackjack, but rather you’re playing the other players at the table with you.
According to Forsman, others are trying to get in on the success that Canterbury Park has had. Forsman said that there is a push underway in Anoka County to get a class A race track with the intention to get a card room.
“It is no secret that Canterbury Park has had an increase in revenue,” Forsman said. “The additional customer support has led to more business.”
The problem for Johnson though, isn’t Canterbury Park, or even tribal casinos. He gambles for higher stakes with folks he has met on line, and heard about through acquaintances.
“I doubt that what we do is legal,” Johnson said. “We get 20 guys sometimes with $2-3,000. I’ve lost all my money, but I’ve also gone home with $15,000 before.”
Johnson suggests that there are a lot of underground games that are more than just friendly basement games with $5 entry fees.
“You can go on the internet and find groups who play for a lot of money,” Johnson said. “I play two or three times a week, and I play for bigger pots than you could ever find at Canterbury or one of the other casinos.”
Johnson isn’t sure though if poker has caused a new kind of gambling problem or not.
“I’m no expert, but I’d say it probably has,” Johnson said. “I just got into poker in the last few years after watching it on TV,” Johnson said. “I imagine there are others in my situation. I shouldn’t play for the money I do, but I can’t help it. It is fun, and there is always a chance I will make money.”
Becky Sechrist, the associate director of the Minnesota Problem Gambling Helpline, said she doesn’t have any evidence that there has been an increase in poker-related gambling problems.
“There is certainly a casino problem,” Sechrist said. “But we have not seen an increase directly from poker.”
Sechrist said that anytime a person calls the help line to seek assistance with their gambling, the operator will ask them what kind of gambling problem they have.
“We don’t have hard facts, or statistics,” Sechrist said. “It is a little surprising, but our speculation is that there hasn’t been a big increase.”
There hasn’t been a big problem either with bars and restaurants breaking the law in terms of the kind of poker games they are running, according to Forsman.
If Forsman does find out a bar is running an illegal game, he’ll contact them either by phone or with a letter, explaining to them that they are breaking the law.
“Most don’t do it intentionally,” Forsman said. “Depending on the circumstances, we’ll take action though.”
Johnson acknowledged that it isn’t bars where he plays his games.
“We met a couple guys at the bar, but we don’t play there,” Johnson said. “We play at a buddy’s house.”
Private, social gambling is exempt from the law, according to Forsman, when it is just a few neighbors or friends and nobody is advertising it or making money by taking a cut of the pot for hosting the poker game.
“When someone starts to advertise it, or if they are taking a cut to make money, then it becomes a commercial endeavor,” Forsman said.
The car ride back to Johnson’s house was solemn. He was in no mood to talk. Admittedly, he was running through what he was going to tell his fiancee in his head.
“Maybe she’ll understand,” Johnson pondered. “I am getting good. Someday I will make it to Vegas to play in tournaments. I love this game.” Johnson said a smile back on his face.
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2005/December/16pokerface.html
posted by admin at 4:39 PM
<< Home