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BUCYRUS — The World Poker Tour has become one of poker’s most visible assets, on par with the World Series of Poker. Now, local people can experience playing in a WPT event — and it’s free.

The World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League has begun play in Mansfield, Galion and Bucyrus, and the response from area players has been encouraging, according to Tony and Nancy Pewonski, of Mansfield, who run Aces and Eights Entertainment.

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SEWARD — Texas hold ’em card games may be popular among poker players, but they aren’t a legal form of gambling in Pennsylvania – as one area fire company is finding out the hard way.

Seward Volunteer Fire Company held at least three money-raising poker tournaments in 2007.

Now, the state Attorney General’s Office is seeking $40,814 from the illegal games.

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Television and the Internet have changed that, giving 21st century poker status in the casino industry. And despite the recent economic downturn taking a bite out of revenue, casinos are expanding their poker amenities.

At least 12 Reno-Sparks properties have poker rooms. The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa just opened a new nine-table room.

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There’s no cash to be won.

The chips are free and each night is as much a social gathering as anything else.

Still, that doesn’t mean the various weekly Texas Hold ’Em poker tournaments in Loveland don’t get tense.

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Lawmakers from across the suburbs, and across the aisle, reacted to the series by saying the state should do more to keep an eye on the casino industry and provide help for gambling addicts.

“It is shameful,” said state Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican. “If we are raking in billions of dollars in revenue from compulsive gambling, we need to take care of those people who need our help.”

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California may become the first state to legalize online poker after the federal government banned online gambling, taking advantage of a loophole in federal law. Andrew Luria reports.

Click here to watch the video:
[CA] CBS13 – Video: California May Legalize Online Poker (07/22/08)

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A proposal to legalize online poker in California made its way through the Senate Governmental Organization Committee last month and is now on its way to the Senate Appropriations Committee to be voted upon in August.

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FARIBAULT — A recent study says that gambling is becoming an addiction among high school students, but local school officials say they don’t see it happening here.

According to a 2007 Minnesota Student Survey, more than 60 percent of 12th-grade boys said they played cards for money. Nationwide, 4 to 8 percent of teens are projected to already have a gambling issue, while another 10 to 15 percent are said to be at risk for a developing a problem, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

So far, any indication of a problem in Faribault isn’t evident, said Bob Stepaniak, superintendent of the Faribault School District.

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Texas hold ‘em fans will play for a trip to Las Vegas at Snowshoe Mountain resort today, after West Virginia Lottery Commission officials said the poker tournament is not illegal.

Wheeling officials raised questions this week about whether Snowshoe and the tournament’s sponsor, the West Virginia Radio Corporation, could hold the tournament. They said state law allows gambling only at the state’s racetracks and its numerous limited video lottery parlors.

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WHEELING – A planned poker tournament Saturday at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County, W.Va., is “not permissible” under state law, West Virginia Lottery Commission general counsel John Melton said.

In fact, Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie, speaking in his capacity as a state senator from Ohio County, called the tournament “completely illegal.”

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