In Michigan, a number of non profit organizations and charities derive a significant percentage of their income from charity poker events. Some of these include the Tipping Point Theatre, Northville Chamber of Commerce and Northville Historical Society. Many non-profits staff these “Millionaire Parties” (AKA charity poker) and raise funds that are badly needed for them to operate.
So when the Michigan State Legislation had earlier proposed the roll out of new laws that would result in shutting down a large number of these charity poker events, there was a huge outcry from a number of charities.
Fred Shadko said
The Northville Historical Society derives 10 percent of its budget from working said parties. The Northville Historical Society is entirely supported by donations and fundraising efforts.
The Michigan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules had earlier put together a number of changes that would ensure a restriction on the total number of days charity poker games could operate at a venue. The rules also put a restriction on the number of charities that can work at these parties. The rules also required for an increase in the number of people that were required to be present at these events.
City Manager Pat Sullivan said
The state gaming commission is under pressure to restrict these events, by putting limitations on the venues, the operators, and the charities themselves.
There is an early estimate that if the changes go through, only one in four of the charities that participate today will be able to participate in the future.
One of the main reasons behind the proposed rules was because the Michigan Gaming Control Board wanted to crackdown on a number of anti-social issue such as gaming violations, drugs and crime which often occur at some poker venues.
Most of the charities came together in unity to voice their opinion and make a strong case for themselves and as a result the Michigan Gaming Control Board decided to put on hold the new laws. They released a statement which read
The request (to withdraw the rules) was made in order to determine if adjustments can be made to the rules and still accomplish the goal of the MGCB to ensure the integrity of the games and protect the charity’s ability to raise funds.
However, the MGCB confirmed that it has not completely dropped the idea of rolling out the new laws. It has been kept on hold for now and will be reviewed at a future date once again.
