Old folks poker game raided

Happy St Patricks Day to all our readers and we have a story to make you laugh or maybe cry. Gambling laws or at least the enforcement of them seemed a little over the top in Idaho recently when an old folks home was raided by police to break up their Texas  hold’em poker game which they had been holding on a weekly basis for around 5 years. Putting in only $20 each with the chip leaders sharing the spoils and even donating some of the winnings to the home, the old folk at Twin Falls Home had no idea they were breaking any laws however the police had a different view. Idaho Law says it is illegal “risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, the operation of casino gambling including, but not limited to, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat or keno”. We guess that means pretty much all gambling is illegal no matter what age you are. Most of them have learned to play poker in their later years both to pass the time as well to add some excitement and it is something they can do which exercises the brain rather than the body which tends to give up sooner. They tried playing legally last week (without money) but agreed it was not the same; the other thing they all agreed on was that they would like to know who reported them; let’s hope they don’t find out or it might get nasty! Local legislation could also be about to change to allow discretion; let’s hope so.