A roll of the dice

I was working on some other small projects today and for some reason became curious about casino events. I don’t know if your town is anything like mine, but it seems like a few times a year, usually during the winter, churchs and non-profits have “casino night” fundraisers with blackjack, horse races, roulette ect.

Why should they have all the fun right? I have an awesome place in mind that is cheap to rent, already has a bar area and high ceiling dining area that could easily accommodate a few hundred people and gambling tables.

So the hunt began.

I’ve applied for the small games of chance license before, so I am familiar with the wording – and I understand that it doesn’t cover and casino type games. So the next call was to an entertainment/event guy a few counties over. He told me that he has some of the equipment and tables and has contacts with dealers etc.

O.K….but is it legal?

His answer was that he never really had a problem. He figured that everyone just looked the other way.

Gee, thanks. So you’re holding potentially illegal events and you don’t know/care if they’re legal?

Next call: Erie County Courthouse. A nice lady named Karen (I think) gave me the skinny on the whole deal. Apparently, all these casino nights and fundraisers for injured relatives are not legal. At the same time though, the county doesn’t have the time or interest to pursue them. As long as it’s not a poker event, then they pretty much let it go. She still suggested that I apply for the small games of chance license though…..Even though IT DOESN’T COVER CASINO STYLE GAMBLING.

ME: So why get a license if what I am doing is illegal anyway and not applicable to the license.
HER: So that you’re licensed.
ME: um…what?

Next call: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, because what good is an event without booze? This officer was a little more adamant about obeying the law – as you would expect an officer to be. He reaffirmed that these events were illegal and that the organizer could be charged with criminal misdemeanor gambling. On the other hand he didn’t really know of any event that had been charged with this. He said that it really varied by jurisdiction.

Next Call: The local police department. The officer on the phone actually helped out at another local casino event and knew what I was getting at. They would like the courtesy of being told about the event and when and where it would be – especially if it involved alcohol. She said as long as it wasn’t a crazy drunken riot (I’m paraphrasing) that they usually try to leave it alone. It helps when it is a non-profit or a benefit. She said all this applied if it was in the borough. If it took place in the township then they would have to let the state police know and then who knows…….

Well, my perfect location is about ¼ mile outside the borough limits. Dang It! I don’t know how profitable it would be anyway. You figure that you could charge $20 a head to get in and include draft beer and finger food. With limited advertising you might get 100-150 people. Then figure on the rental costs the bartender and drink costs, the band cost (optional), the cost of the dealers etc…..

Whatever – it was a quick little research project. Another example of silly laws that are in place to enforce at someone’s discretion should they ever want to. Back to work.