Poker tournament forced to fold

ALPINE, Ore. – The law has put the kibosh on the poker game down at the crossroads bar. Seems the county doesn’t have an ordinance that allows a sociable game of chance.

That means the Wednesday night Texas Hold ‘Em game at the Alpine Tavern is on hiatus, although the Benton County Commission could still come riding to the rescue.

The bar is in the unincorporated community of Alpine about halfway between Corvallis and Eugene. A local organizer has held three tournament nights, drawing more than 20 gamblers, their spouses and others who’ve caught on to the poker craze. Bar owners say the nights have been good for business.

After the third week, an Oregon State Police detective working with the Oregon Lottery called a halt because Benton County doesn’t have an ordinance allowing social gambling, as the cities of Corvallis and Eugene do.

“They can do Texas Hold ‘Em for fun, but they can’t do it for money,” said Chuck Baumann, spokesman for the Oregon Lottery, which monitors gaming activity as part of its contract with businesses.

Benton County Commissioner Jay Dixon said there likely will be a hearing on a social gaming ordinance soon.

“I’m not a poker player,” he said. “I don’t feel strongly one way or the other. It appears to be an economic issue for the Alpine Tavern.”

Under state law, Baumann said, local governments can allow hold ‘em tournaments, but the bars can’t take a cut.

“It has to be a game between the players,” he said. “All the money has to go back to the players.”

Typically in hold ‘em tournaments, each player buys in for a set amount, and that becomes the prize pool.

Charlie Pecorilla of nearby Monroe organized the Alpine Tavern poker games. Buy-in was $25 a player, of which he got $5 to buy chips, tables, cards and other equipment.

“We’re not gambling for big money, but it’s enough to where it makes it fun,” Pecorilla said.

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