who would have thought it would come to this??   Really ???   Recently, this past month,  this came into law in Kansas.   Seems as our dudes up in Topeka has decided that Poker runs are now considered "gambling".  So they have banned them and have made them yet another stupid illegal act.  I hate to see this happen, although I have not been to one ever, but know of a few that have benefited from the outcome.  We have so many individuals who the poker runs were started for.  Do the legislators not know just how much money is donated to good causes through these poker runs????  I personally have a friend with Kidney failure disease, who recieved thousands of dollars for her treatment and hopefully kidney transplant, after someone started a poker run just for her.   NOt to mention many others with cancer,  kids that were hurt,  Teens in car wrecks, injured servicemen/women,  different charities and so on.  They, ( the suits) say that getting cards from new decks is chance, but having them dealt all at once is skill.... what the helll????   Like one can determine what card is going to come up next for his hand????   This is just a crock!!!   I cant believe it actually went into law!!!    I think if things had been looked at differently,  things could have made a difference,  Like maybe taking out the winninghand $$$  or even the prizes,   then it would be just a charitable donation with the fun of a ride and a dinner served.   But then what would be the driving force to get the crowds there????    I know.... free beeer????    At any rate, I think somehow, they could have saved the poker runs here in Kansas had someone put some thought into it.....  What will they think of next!!!!   grrrrrrr!

It's for your own good, don'cha know.

Might be able to skirt it, maybe, by working thru a charitable/non-profit organization - Church - Legion Post - VFW Hall - Union
(Would work in New York - I think, anyway)

Bet there is not a legislator in the state with stones enough to p' off the silver haired ladies going to bingo at Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility Church.

Actually, this is NOT a new law, Kansas is one of only four states that do not have a gambling charity exemption. Most other states (like here in California) allow you to apply for a temporary gaming permit for a charity fundraiser (but most don't do it). However this activity has been illegal under the Kansas Gaming laws for quite some time - not exactly sure how long - but it has been years. It appears it just came to light because some local and county prosecutors have decided to take action against some of these events.

As far as I can tell from a quick look at the statue, I don't really see any way around it! They just don't allow gambling or game of chance in anyway outside of a legal casino.

Here are a few articles I found...

http://www.kscbnews.net/news/index.cfm?nk=15317 />
http://www.arkcity.net/news/article_11e138f4-e5b7-11e1-a4ce-001a4bcf887a.html />

I am going to do some more research to find out exactly what the laws are and which states prohibit these under any circumstances.

Think it might be a good time to contact your representatives in Kansas to see if you can get one of them to author a bill to change this!!!

That issue comes up among people in Arkansas. A lot of people now organize point runs where they use added up accumulated numbers on pieces of paper at stops, instead of poker card hands accumulated at stops. It's all silly. Most who win a prize just give the money back to the charity that the run was set up for. However, I know some bikers who draw a hard line on poker runs.

I'd have just as much fun setting up stops at points of interest for the bikers, charge a fee to participate that goes to charity, and get on with the fun. It's all in the fellowship and new people you meet anyway, and helping out someone or a good cause.

Well Ya turn the poker runs into scavenger hunts, except at one stop ya have to grab oh I don't know a card or something, second stop ya grab another card or something and the beat goes one. Then of course since eveyone has a digtal camera or camera on phone ya have some thing ya supposed to take a picture of and tatdah there ya go...................just going around it in a different fashion. have a great one! "T"

thanks lucky for checking more into this. I had forgotten the "skill" of throwing darts to play. I also had not seen these aricles, you really do your research. It just burns me to such "good" events having to fight to keep doing what they are doing. You are right I should do some letter writing up north ..... although dont know if my "little" voice could do anything.

Wow, I thought they were uptight down here in the bible belt in Virginia. The suits probably just havn't figured it out yet.

I'm just a Limey and knows nothing of how poker runs work...but...

Just supposing someone were to call up a "Fun Run", not state that its charity, not state that its for any kind of profit whatsoever, an "Entry Fee" is charged for "ADMIN Purposes", the eventual 1st place etc could be given an incentive, etc...

I dont know, as I said, I'm just a Limey Bstd who dont know how they run, but do you get what I mean? Change the names - but the games still the same.....

What have we been doing for years? Charity Fund Raisers for a cause or a person or their kid. What do (most) bikers get a kick out of? Helping somebody and figuring out how to circumvent any goofy 'law' that prevents someone from helping someone else. If yer a cop, don't get all butt-hurt, I ain't talking about any law that doen't apply to Poker Runs.
Like the other folks said, just organize the next event so that the 'letter' of the law is kept.
I still think that this is being enforced as another source of revenue and a petition to exempt Charity Functions.
Just my thoughts...
edgeman

Sometimes, not saying it is the case this time; prosecutors wish chicken dropping laws weren’t on the books at all. - Come on what glory or reputation is there in shutting down a Poker Run? – They will enforce a dumb law, or threaten to, hoping that that will motivate the citizens to act & repeal it.

Write your State, County & local representatives. – You would be amazed how few people do. – Ask your club to do the same. – Write a letter to local paper. – Call the paper & suggest they send a reporter to cover one of your events.

If the government wont even let little kids sell lemonade anymore , well.............