GARDINER, Maine -- A weekly cribbage tournament at an American Legion post has been shut down after a state inspector said the games were illegal because the post didn't have a license to host games of chance.

Bill Meserve, an 87-year-old World War II veteran, said paying the $5 entry fee on Sundays was an inexpensive way to have fun on a fixed income. He can't understand why anyone would tell a bunch of old veterans they can't play a simple game of cribbage.

The American Legion needs a license to hold cribbage tournaments because it sells things to players, such as food and alcohol, he said. A license for games of chance costs $15 a week or $60 or month, while a yearly license goes for $700, he said.

The American Legion post in Gardiner was told it could purchase a special license for just $7.50 a year, provided it charged no more than $1 per person and players did not gamble.

"But they want to do it their way," Gomane said. - http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14524138/detail.html

This is a perfect example of two people with posteriors too tight for their own good. The inspector could have just ignored the infraction, and the hall could just charge the players $1 and ignore any illegal gambling.

In UK works canteens they gamble on all card games, and the stakes Matchsticks or pennies and If any real money is involved, its paid quietly at the end of the week (only a small sum)the Management turn a blind eye also any authority ...and Yes there are No Gambling notices displayed Prominently

Perhaps the British method would work for these guys?

quote:

Originally posted by bedstor:
In UK works canteens they gamble on all card games, and the stakes Matchsticks or pennies and If any real money is involved, its paid quietly at the end of the week (only a small sum)the Management turn a blind eye also any authority ...and Yes there are No Gambling notices displayed Prominently

Bedstor, was it common to have a 'no gambling' notice in any works or factory?It would make sense if to stop unseemly disputes or friction. The employers might have been anxious not to contravene the old gaming laws, too. These had strange provisions. Gambling at home was allowed provided that no passer- by could see the game being played That law had a hang over when the betting shops [licensed bookmakers' premises, open to all adults, found now in every main street and beyond] opened. That's why betting shops were set up so that people in the street could not see inside: the premises were otherwise like any other shop.Now the law permits the innocent eyes of Newmarket to see inside (so people in the centre of horse racing may now be shocked at gambling on view ) And until the law was changed, you used to see a quaint notice in pubs saying that games of skill, such as cribbage and shove ha'penny (!), could be played there for small stakes.

Yet Fred You never see a game of cards inside a betting shop But now you see these Videogames you can bet your money on, and the Jackpot is a few Thousand pounds And is sucking a lot of people in! Odds of winning even a small prize,very high
Safest gamble if you must try Go online and Find a casino game site with Free Play option
It will show you how bad the system is
Try www.simslots.com and www.moneyballs.com for a virtual "money" fund prize, and a tiny chance of turning it into hard cash

The second site has AD sponsor popups but they are not nasties click on the "Continue Playing" link to get rid OK?