Charities | Organizers say more money needs to be up for grabs

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By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

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Organizers of local charity poker tournaments are calling on the province to ease up on the rules governing such events.

Paul Wentzell, poker chairman with UCT Fredericton, said the service club has run three charity Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments since the province passed new legislation last year.

However, he said, interest in those tournaments has dropped off and the service club had to cancel a fourth event planned for April.

The reason, Wentzell said, is that poker players aren't interested in the tournaments because the prize pools are so low.

Under provincial legislation, only 35 per cent of entry fees can go to the prize pool at these charity tournaments, while 45 per cent goes to charity and 20 per cent to cover costs.

Wentzell said poker players who pay $50 or more to play in a tournament want to see a better potential return on their money with bigger prize pools.

He's written the bureaucrat in charge of licensing and governing charity poker tournaments, suggesting that the rules change to allow for 65 per cent to go to the prize pool, 25 per cent for charity and 10 per cent for costs.

Wentzell said he's certain the government developed the original prize pool restrictions to ensure that charities got as much support and help as possible.

But if there's no interest as a result and tournaments are cancelled, charities end up getting nothing, he said.

Wentzell has discussed the issue with other tournament organizers, and they're having similar experiences, he said.

"I think all of the organizers are pretty much on the same page," he said.

Ben Sullivan is in charge of charity poker tournaments for the Marysville Legion.

Since the new legislation was brought in last year, he's run two charity tournaments at the Marysville Legion and two at the legion on Queen Street.

He also has one in the works for May 9 at the Oromocto Legion.

"Our numbers are falling all the time," Sullivan said, noting many players are turning to home games because the prize pools for formal charity tournaments are too small.

Furthermore, when the new casino opens in Moncton next year, it will no doubt offer poker tournaments with prize pools in the range of 80 to 90 per cent of the entry fees, he said.

Wentzell said he believes the chances are good that the government will consider the proposed changes because the Department of Public Safety contacted him for input.

Another issue he hopes can be addressed, he said, is that of sponsorship.

The regulations prohibit the use of any sponsorship money in charity tournaments.

Wentzell said he wants sponsorship money to be permitted and divided up on the same percentage basis as the entry fees.

Daniel Lessard, a spokesman with the Department of Public Safety, said the government has no position on suggestions that the prize pool rules be changed.

"We are going to consider all feedback we receive from the charities," he said.

"Our only position is to ensure that suggestions from the charities on what improvements could be made are heard and considered in any future changes."

The province will consider the sponsorship money issue as well, he said.

"We are currently reviewing the terms and conditions for charitable Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, and how sponsorship impacts prize pools is something that will be taken under consideration," Lessard said.

Wentzell said he also wants to get the charities more involved in poker events.

He said the next UCT poker tournament is tentatively scheduled for May 23, and the group is going to try something new. It's going to be a "name your charity" tournament, meaning players will be able to specify the charity they want their money to benefit.