Nebraska Charity Poker

Shouldn't it be legal too?
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Welcome to the Nebraska Charity Poker website

As you may know, charity poker is not legal in Nebraska.  I created this website to provide you with information on how charity poker could be set up and I'll try to provide answers to common questions on charity poker. 
 

Senator Karpisek introduced the bill to legalize charity poker but it never made it out of committee.  The main reason is that the senators were concerned that if charity poker was legal, that would then open the door to the Indians opening up 'poker palaces' all over the state on their land.  The opposition claimed that the Indians would not have to follow the same restrictions as everyone else (percentage of the proceeds go to charity, charities must apply for and get approved for a permit to sponsor a charity poker event, losses are limited at $1,000, etc.).  They said that as long as poker is allowed in any manner in Nebraska, then they could not be restricted in any way.  I can't get anyone to confirm for sure whether or not this is true so if you are able to confirm it either way, please let me know (guppick@gmail.com).
 
Here's a clip from the hearing:
 
What are the chances of legalizing charity poker yet?  Well, I was going to propose that an amendment be added that says a facility could not host a poker tournament two weeks in a row which would prevent all these 'poker palaces' from opening up in Nebraska as they couldn't make enough money to stay open with that restriction in place.  I believe Illinois has a similar type restriction.  Of course if the Indians don't have to follow that restriction either, then there is no point in offering that amendment.
 
In my opinion, I don't think the Indians would bother opening up poker rooms anyway as poker is one of the least profitable games at a casino.  They make a little money on every hand during cash games and a modest percentage during tournaments.  Unlike blackjack, craps and slots where the player is always playing against the casino with the odds against them, poker is played against other players, not the casino.  Many casinos don't bother offering poker as it's not profitable enough for them. 
Who will benefit if charity poker is made legal in Nebraska?

 

  • Charities - Charity poker events held in other states raise anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars in a weekend.  It’s a fun, social way to raise money that doesn’t require a lot of time or money from the charity.  With a struggling economy, charities are in desperate need of additional sources of revenue and charity poker is the best option for them.

  • Existing Businesses - Businesses that host these poker events will love the additional revenue and exposure they’ll be getting from these events.  In Michigan, bowling alleys and golf courses often host these events but so do bars, VFW halls and restaurants.  Gas stations and fast food places near the poker event will see in increase in business too.

 

  • State - The state could receive millions of dollars in permit fees.  In Michigan, a charity must pay a $50 fee to the state for each day they are licensed to host the event (note: a charity can only sponsor an event four times a year up to four days at each event).  In addition, the charity poker management company must pay annual permit fees.  Michigan received over 4 million dollars last year from these fees. 

 

  • City - I'm not aware of other states or cities that do this but with the budget shortfall that Omaha and other cities in Nebraska are facing, I thought maybe we could add an entertainment type fee to every poker charity participant.  Basically each player would have to pay a $1 or $5 fee (amount determined by the city) in each fundraiser they play in.  This money could be allocated to keep public pools, libraries and golf courses open, go towards programs for kids that the city has cut or maybe even help fund the retirement plans for the fire and police unions.  It's not going to balance the budget for them but every little bit helps.

 

  • New Businesses and Jobs - There probably won't be a lot of new business created but there will need to be businesses that will have to manage the poker events for the charities.