Planning a poker game or a little roulette?
If it?s at a Howard County bar, forget it.
“It?s an extraordinary risk,” said Howard County liquor inspector Detective Martin Johnson, who enforces a law prohibiting activities such as card games, dice or roulette ? even when money isn?t involved.
The law is a part of a state statute specific to Howard, and the liquor board recently handed out the first fine for a poker tournament. The liquor license holders for the Columbia Ale House received a $1,000 fine this month for hosting a Texas Hold ?Em Poker Tournament.
It?s not a new law, but in March police officials sent a letter to the holders of the 260 liquor licenses, notifying and encouraging them to call police with any questions, Johnson said.
The letter was prompted by complaints about gambling with money, which is also illegal, he said.
Johnson said he isn?t sure how common gaming is at county bars, but many owners told him they had consideredpoker tournaments.
Most don?t want to risk a fine, which can be up to $2,000, or have their license suspended or revoked, he said.
Mark Hemmis, owner of the Phoenix Emporium in Ellicott City, said he considered hosting tournaments, but never followed through after he was alerted to the laws.
“I thought it was an excellent opportunity to increase business on slow nights, but being in Howard County, you need to check first,” he said.
Hemmis also took issue with how bars were being targeted, and not game nights at senior centers.
Owners at the Columbia Ale House were not available for comment.
According to hearing documents, license holder David Schroeder Sr. testified he was told these games were allowed in other parts of the state. He also said he didn?t get a clear answer when he asked Johnson about the games and thought that it wasn?t important.
