Bars Lose First Round in Poker Tourney Lawsuit

Bars Lose First Round in Poker Tourney Lawsuit BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state judge has ruled that two bar owners who went to court to save their weekly poker tournaments from state liquor regulators threatening a crackdown acted prematurely and will have to wait until citations are issued. Tournaments televised on cable television have renewed popularity of the game and bars around the state have been taking advantage it, hosting poker tournaments to boost business on slow nights. But, earlier this month, Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter said his agency is preparing to send warning letters -- or cease-and-desist orders -- to bars. Violations could result in bar owners facing liquor license revocations and criminal charges. Painter told a legislative committee today that his office will start "seriously investigating" the poker tournaments beginning Monday and pursue any infractions through the courts. When questioned by state lawmakers, he wouldn't say if his office would shut down any businesses for the activity. He did say he would look at possibly citing some of the businesses if his office deemed certain activities illegal.