Michael Fomkin Poker News

Well, I have been thinking a long time about this so I am just going to throw the idea out there and ask for some feedback.

I am interested in getting a group together to organize poker at some local bars, similar to what they do with trivia. Contact the bars, get sponsors for prizes and play some poker.

I understand alot of you have fanilies and would not be able to participate in most of these games but I think it would do a few things and I would like to get some input from you.

1. By having these tourneys on nights when a bar is slow it would bring people into the bar that might not otherwise be there. This is how I would lay it out to the bar managers/owners. Have the bars offer specials only to the players.

2. Give me something to do during the week instead of going out and spending money all the time. Alright, I know this one is a little selfish but I am sure there are lots of guys out there just like me trying to do something different.

3. Introduce people to the game of NL Holdem and maybe get them in our regular game.

Now comes the interesting part. I read this article the other day. I am putting it all in here because you need to register with Augusta Chronicle and I don't want you to have to do this just to read the article. So here it is.
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Two accused of illegal gambling

ATHENS, Ga. - A woman who ran a series of legitimate noncash poker tournaments in downtown bars has been accused of running illegal card games at her West Athens home where the stakes ran to thousands of dollars.

Tamara "Tami" Michelle Wiggins, 29, was arrested with 14 others when her Pinecrest Terrace residence was raided early Saturday.

She was charged with, among other things, commercial gambling, a felony charged when a person earns money by running an illegal gambling establishment.

Ms. Wiggins was chief proprietor of the Athens Poker Club, which has played host to legal tournaments since 2003 and awarded winners noncash prizes such as gift certificates, similar to ones awarded to bar trivia-game players.

Also charged with commercial gambling was 42-year-old Robert Darrell Jones, also of the Pinecrest Terrace address and described by police as Ms. Wiggins' boyfriend.

Mr. Jones also faces federal charges after the Athens-Clarke Police Department's Drug and Vice Unit said it caught him with 30 to 35 pounds of marijuana in 2003.

Beginning in January, the Athens Poker Club played host to legal card-playing tournaments each Sunday through Thursday at the Broad Street Bar and Grill, Toppers International, Chasers and Gus's.

The games did not involve cash bets, but players who placed in the top eight at the end of the tournament received awards ranging from gift certificates to the club's sponsorship at a 2005 World Series of Poker event, including hotel accommodations for two in Las Vegas and $1,000 in spending money.

After authorities received a tip of an illegal gambling operation at the Pinecrest Terrace residence, members of the Drug and Vice Unit executed a search warrant shortly after midnight Saturday.

They interrupted a card game involving 13 people, including a University of Georgia student acting as dealer and providing security while armed with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, police said.

In addition to commercial gambling, Ms. Wiggins and Mr. Jones were each charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after more than an ounce of marijuana was found during the raid, officials said.

Both also were charged with the misdemeanor crimes of keeping a gambling place.

"They were holding games there on a regular basis, Wednesday through Friday nights," said Lt. Mike Hunsinger, the supervisor of the Drug and Vice Unit.

--From the Wednesday, March 9, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle
Two accused of illegal gambling

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As I read this, it seems that the games she had going at the bars where OK. She only messed up because she started holding games in her home and either taking a drop or renting out seating and profitting from the games. And I guess the dealer with the 9mm didn't help either. I am seeing this correctly?

Does anyone have any idea what the laws are in Georgia about gambling. I know there have been 2 big poker bust here in Augusta in the last few weeks. One was selling seats as well as being a bookie and the other was at a place of business. Any insight into what the law has to say about tourney poker where there is no buy-in and prizes are awarded instead of cash?

I have a really good idea how I would make this happen and feel I could sell it to some local bars. I really want to get some input into this subject to see what you guys think.

All comments good and bad welcome.

-Wellman