It's a big deal: pubs can't hide their poker face

The Internal Affairs Department says it is cracking down on Hamilton poker leagues and warns it will not hesitate to prosecute those caught out.

The department said it was concerned about a number of potentially illegal gambling activities being planned or already occurring in the city.

Gambling compliance director Mike Hill would not be drawn on the number or names of the pubs or clubs who, he said, were alleged to be using gambling funds to "prop up their business".

"The department is aware that venues are making arrangements with specialist entrepreneurs who offer to run gambling activities such as poker games with additional games of chance or lotteries for a fee," he said.

The Hamilton-based New Zealand Series of Poker (NZSOP) has 22 Waikato pubs and clubs in its league and is the third largest poker league in the country.

NZSOP directors Ryan Holden and Caleb Walker welcomed the department's tougher stance.

"We strive to comply with the current gambling legislation and find it frustrating when poker is run illegally in bars and private premises." Mr Walker said.

Poker had "just exploded" in Hamilton lately, but he believed any rogue poker leagues were not restricted to the city because as the popularity of poker's Texas Hold'em blossomed dozens of "home games" had sprouted in Waikato homes.

Mr Walker believed the Government needed to further clarify the Gambling Act 2003, which covered pokie machines and TAB but still left grey areas for poker.

"If they could clarify it, get some regulation and say `this is what you can and can't do' and make sure every single pub poker outfit in the country was doing that it would be fantastic."

He said there needed to be clarification and consistency between "free pub poker and gambling poker". "Free pub poker, it's not gambling it's entertainment."

The Outback Inn managing director Russell Menzies said the inn contracted its poker nights out to NZSOP, who had been running them successfully for the past two years.

"We get around 130 people with a waiting list of five to 10 people each night, it's huge ... it's sort of pretend poker for us as there's no entry fee or anything."

Mr Menzies said Outback Inn sought legal advice before starting the poker nights and "to my knowledge, we haven't had any issues as yet."

However, the Times is aware of poker nights which pop up intermittently in homes in suburbs that include Glenview and Chartwell, which might be pushing boundaries. They feature large buys-ins and prizemoney.

Mr Hill said poker with no entry fee was okay, but if payments were made by participants it could bring the event inside the definition of gambling.

WHEN PUB PLAY'S OKAY

No entry fee.

No money to be paid by participants at any stage.

Event kitty must not exceed $500.

Gambling revenue cannot be used to support venue's profits.

- © Fairfax NZ News