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Message: [QUOTE="TrapStar, post: 1025122, member: 33976"] [FONT=Arial]Playing Poker for FREE Illegal!!!!! Yes it’s true. Not only in New York, but in as many as 30 other states it is ILLEGAL for you and your friends to sit down and play a friendly game of Poker even if there is NO MONEY involved. Throughout this great country many states allow what is referred to as “bar or tavern” poker. In this game you join a poker league at a local “sponsor” (bar, tavern, restaurant, etc.) then compete on a weekly basis for prizes ranging from merchandise to cash to entry into major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker. The tournaments are for entertainment purposes only and entry into the league and tournaments is FREE. Players begin each session of play with an equal amount of tournament chips and are never charged a fee of any kind to play. The player risks nothing and can loose nothing. The New York State Penal Code (§ 225) states that playing any game wherein you risk “something of value” is gambling. The State further defines “something of value” as anything “…involving extension of a service, entertainment or a privilege of playing at a game or scheme without charge.” This law makes it illegal to play in or sponsor a FREE poker tournament where there is no entry fee of any kind and absolutely no risk of loss to the player. Further, in the State of New York any “sponsor” would be promoting gambling and subject to having their liquor license suspended. If this standard was applied evenly and fairly any competitive game played for entertainment (i.e. bridge, volleyball, bowling, darts, etc.) would be gambling. Unfortunately that is not the case as poker is singled out as gambling while all other competitive games are allowed to be played. Our position is simple. If you pay nothing to play, have no risk and can lose nothing then there is no gamble. We have filed an action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (case No.: 650328/2008) claiming that the law, as written and applied is unconstitutional and a violation of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution calling for equal protection under the law. If you ban FREE poker then you must ban all FREE games wherein the player can win “something of value.” We are fighting the Government to protect your right to play FREE Poker. To win we need strong, vocal support and active involvement from you, the poker playing public. With this in mind, I urge you to support our action by writing letters to the Court and sending them to The FREE Poker Experience for use in the litigation process. There is nothing more important that you, the poker playing public can do to promote and defend the great game of poker then to help us help you in defending the great game of poker. ? Ensure that your poker voice is heard loud and clear! ? Join the fight and help protect America’s card game! ? Defend poker and your Constitutional rights! ? Poker is the great American card game it is not a crime! This is a critical time for poker. The momentum we build with our success in the New York State Courts will carry over throughout the country to all 31 states that use the “something of value” argument. We are not a large national organization with millions of dues paying members. We are regular people who believe that it is time that the “average Joe” stands up and fights for his rights. Benjamin Scheck FREE Poker Experience, LLC P. O. Box 66738 #17440, Saint Louis, Missouri 63166-6738 Phone: (631) 512-7405 Fax: (314) 754-8386 E-mail: [URL="http://us.mc579.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=freepokerexperience@gmail.com"]freepokerexperience@gmail.com[/URL][/FONT] [/QUOTE]

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