The Oregon Senate Committee on General Government and Accountability recently considered House Bill 2190, which would permit organized poker games only if they are operated and controlled by a charitable, fraternal or religious organization. The legislation passed the House in a 39-16 vote on April 27. If passed in its current form, more than a dozen poker rooms in the Portland area could be shut down.
State Senator Chuck Riley, chair of the committee, said, “I think there is another way of moving forward than with what is currently prescribed in the bill.” That could include dropping the cover fee the rooms charge to generate revenue since they’re not allowed to charge a rake on the tables.
Without the entry fee or rake, the poker rooms would have to rely entirely on food and drink sales.
In addition, senators discussed not allowing the rooms to hire permanent dealers. Under state gaming laws, dealers cannot be paid by the poker rooms so they depend on players’ tips. The state would like the games to be self-dealt but operators of the rooms and players are concerned that could lead to cheating.
The first poker room opened there in 2007 and peaked at nearly two dozen rooms. As Indian gaming arose in the state, with eight casinos now operating, gaming interests in Oregon and in Washington State have been lobbying to shut down the Portland poker rooms, which have generated $10-$15 million in revenue annually.
