| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Loophole Paves Way for Poker Gambling
- Monday, 17 Apr 2006
Visitors will soon be flocking to North Carolina’s only legal gambling hall to play live poker. The Harrah's Cherokee Casino is planning to add poker tables early next year, letting local gambling fans join in the worldwide poker boom. The gambling establishment, owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, has managed to introduce poker by finding one tiny legal loophole that makes it all possible.
The Cherokee Nation has gone on record to state that it will not benefit from the gambling revenues generate by live poker. This means that thanks to specific wording of state legislation, Harrah's has the ability to offer casino players the live game. Currently state law only permits gambling fans to gamble on video poker in North Carolina. Governor Mike Easley, who by law is able to change the state's agreement with the tribe, has issued a statement advising his office is aware of the interest in live gambling, however acknowledges that live poker may fall outside the state’s jurisdiction in the event that the gambling establishment refuses to profit from the venture.
In this case, the issue of whether or not poker gambling at Harrah’s is legal or not is in the hands of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Spokesman Shawn Pensoneau has stated that a request to host live gambling events is yet to be received from the tribe. If and when the request is made, it is up to the National Indian Gaming Commission to determine whether it complies with state and federal law.
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