WCCO: Senator Drafts 'Texas Hold 'Em' Bill: "Senator Drafts 'Texas Hold 'Em' Bill" Shakopee, Minn. (WCCO) A Republican state senator plans to introduce a bill allowing poker players to gather for tournaments in places other than Minnesota casinos. Sen. Dave Kleis of St. Cloud is an aficionado of the poker game known as "Texas Hold 'Em." Last summer, he heard the owner of the Granite Bowling Alley in his district was busted for running a poker tournament. He decided Minnesota law should be changed. Sen. Kleis will announce details of his bill at a news conference Wednesday morning. When WCCO spoke to him on Tuesday, he said he was still working on specifics. He also said he thinks it's a waste of resources to have undercover investigations going after something that is a recreational activity. Right now, Canterbury Park is the only public place in the metro area where people can legally play in a poker tournament. Poker enthusiasts at the Shakopee casino have been anxious for this bill since they first heard about it last summer. "I see nothing wrong with it," poker player John Huie said. "You have gambling that's prevalent throughout the state, in Indian casinos, even bingo halls." Sen. Kleis' bill does have its critics. "One thing a gaming casino can provide is security," Canterbury Park's Joe Anderson said. "There's a lot of money that's in house. With security, you have the safeguard of someone watching."
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
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