Its Not about Gambling (OPN Staff)
In order to enter the tournaments, contestants have to pay a certain amount of money then they are given chips with no monetary values with which they proceed to compete with other poker players. The player that ends up with all the chips at the table wins and goes on to compete against other winners until there are eight players left. The champion is the one who wins the other seven at a final table.
This game is not about risking money because the chips have no monetary values, some places charge $25 entry fee. However it is not very clear whether Sidelines’ tournaments or Texas Hold 'Em tournaments is professional gambling although it appears no to be. Apparently, professional gambling is illegal in Wyoming according to State Law.
Clear Channel General Manager Bob Price says that these tournaments are anything but illegal gambling. After all, the chips have no monetary value and unlike professional gambling, no one in these tournaments is inducing other people to engage in gambling. Moreover, there is no monetary reward. The winner will win a trip to Reno. As for the profits, the revenues from entry fees are used to pay for administrative costs and for the prize, what is left of that is donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. There are no direct revenues from the games.
One may claim that revenues may come indirectly from food and beverages sold in bars hosting poker tournaments, but in fact there is no increase in business during those evenings.
A Texas Hold 'Em tournament such as Clear Channel's is pretty much like a billiard tournament or a dart tournament. Players pay an entry fee and the winners end up winning prizes. Poker, pool and darts are all games that require more skill than luck.
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