The legalities of POKER here??

[Guest]

I Love the game of Texas hold-em Poker. This game seems to have spread around the world as one of the fastest growing Sports. In most places around this country Poker is played in town halls, Bars, American legions, its even more popular than Bingo. Why don't we here in Pahoa or Puna play more Poker on rainy days. Any one know the logistics to getting a game up and running here in Puna? I have heard of small home games around, but I am talking about a large early bird Tournament or a weekly fund raiser. Maybe games are being played around town and I just haven't heard about them? P.S. Nothing better than eating good Poke while playing Poker.

[csgray]

There used to be a lady in Hawaiian Beaches who ran a tournament for Hold Em out of her house, but I seem to remember being told the police got complaints from neighbors about the cars and noise and late hours and told her to shut it down or she would be charged with violating Hawaii's gambling laws. Technically even home games are illegal here if playing with money, but as long as it is low key people seem to stay under the legal radar. Hawaii's gambling laws are one of the ways the missionary influence really shows here.

Carol

[Guest]

Thanks csgray, Poker is a way of socializing and does have some skill involved to go with plenty of luck. All kinds of different people play various types of card games. These types of card games probably could be helpful for some to stimulate, or keep the mind sharp. With alcohol and tobacco being so easy to get, and it being a way of socializing (BARS)? Why would or should Poker be illegal, or be so hard to run legal games at say places like the farmers markets?. Rent 2-4 tables, set up early bird poker tournaments and some would play, some would like to watch or it would not be all over E.S.P.N. Better yet would be games held at the local community centers where any if any proceeds would go back to that association for things like roads or tree removals. The space, tables, and chairs sit unused most often in all those centers. Any way J.M.O to promote a soft form of socializing within the community. Just like alcohol though there would be those who would find ways to abuse it?.

[csgray]

Hawaii has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the country, some of which go back to the rule of Ka'ahumanu as regent over Hawaii, others stem from the whaling era when drunken whalers were a real problem, then during the plantation era there was a lot of hysteria over the possibility of Asian Tongs running gambling parlors and opium dens. As a result modern day Hawaii has these strict laws and people from the Islands spend a lot of money flying to Las Vegas. We used to be part of a solid every other week poker group, but it sort of fell apart a few years ago, I miss the mental challenge of playing with good players though.


Carol

[lavalava]

I am surprised that the DHHL has not invoked the tribal gaming concept and started a casino here. All that Vegas money spent here instead...