Thursday 28th February 2008 Santa's charity poker tour branded illegal
Officials in Alaska have put the kibosh on a charity poker tournament that was raising money for Santa Claus to answer Christmas wish list letters from kids.
A series of poker games were to be held at a South Fairbanks bar on Saturday afternoons to raise funds for the Santa's Mailbag charity in the North Pole, which answers letters sent to Father Christmas by children all over the world.
Poker matches were planned for most Saturdays throughout the months of March and April, but organisers have been forced to cancel the events after officials said they were against state gambling laws.
"We hope, in the future, we can do something," charity volunteer Frank Gaborik told Newsminer website.
Fairbanks police chief Dan Hoffman said that the poker series would not have constituted a serious crime, but added that "state law is clear, and I have to step up and tell the folks this is in violation of state law and don't do this".
"We just try to help people who have [liquor] licenses not put their license in jeopardy by hosting illegal gambling on their premises," Mr Griffin said.
The Alaska Beverage Control Board also contacted the owners of the Silver Spur bar, where the poker series was set to be held, to explain to them the state's gambling laws.
Source: Direct News
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