Lawmakers Look to Ease Gambling Restrictions

by Josh Montez, correspondent Minnesota among states considering allowing moneyless poker. Legislators in Minnesota are weighing whether to ease restrictions on illegal gambling by creating new exemptions for cashless poker, a proposal that concerns family advocates. Minnesota state Sen. Dave Kleis said he is tired of taxpayer money being used to raid places of gambling, especially what he calls "harmless poker games" like Texas Hold 'Em. Last week, Kleis sponsored a poker tournament, and this week he's sponsoring a bill to make the game legal. "We wanted to show that this is a game of skill no different than playing bridge or euchre, pinochle or cribbage—it's harmless," he said. "Certainly that's why I introduced legislation, and I'm having a hearing on this bill in the Minnesota state Senate." Chad Hills, gambling analyst for Focus on the Family, finds that problematic. "It's unfortunate that a lot of our state officials are unaware that what they're approving is basically a subtle form of gambling, whether it involves money or not," Hills said. Hills said poker games like Texas Hold 'Em are gateways to other types of gambling addictions. "Gambling is driven by greed and deception," Hills said. "It undermines our work ethic. It's based on the premise of something for nothing. It sanctions idleness rather than industriousness and slothfulness rather than initiative. And, he added, don't think that kids aren't picking up on how to bet money when you—or senators—are throwing the chips in.