Poker Nights Banned in Prince Edward Island

It is another sad event for the poker game as it meets resistance in the form of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Poker, being a favorite card game as well as a game that has proven to be very lucrative, is being offered in bars across the Prince Edward Island, but the new policy provided by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation bans poker and its tournaments, particularly Texas Hold'Em, from being played in the bars.  The bars could either keep hosting poker tournaments and risk losing their VLT machines or ditch poker and keep their VLTs.  That was the only choice given to them, and it seems like the bars are going to choose the latter.

Not a Good Thing

Banning the bars in Prince Edward Island from hosting poker tournaments is not a good thing, and the owners of these bars express their disgust over the new policy.  But they admit that they really cannot do anything about.

Although these poker nights have been something to look forward to in Prince Edward Island's bars, it seems like the lottery is being threatened by the growing popularity of poker in the island as it competes for revenues.  So they laid down new rules — hold poker tournaments and lose your VLTs.

Of course, the bar owners were enraged over the new policy and did not like it one bit, but it seems like they have no choice on the matter and will probably decide to let go of their poker tournaments, difficult it might be for both the bar owners and the players.

Atlantic Lottery Corporation's Side

Jennifer Dalton, spokeswoman for the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, said that this is only a new set of rules, but that enforcing this new rule will be up to the province's hands.  She admits that it is not within their jurisdiction to enforce their new rule, but that putting the rule into effect is within the power of the province.

Although this still angered the bar owners, Atlantic Lottery Corporation is going to get its demand because, upon interviewing the bar owners, majority of them say that the poker tournaments are not worth the risk of losing their VLT machines.  In fact, some of them have now stopped hosting these poker tournaments to comply with the new rules set forth by Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

With this new policy, it seems like the Red Shores Casinos of Charlottetown and Summerside are going to see an increase in their revenues as they will now be the only areas left were poker and its tournaments can be played.

TagsAtlantic Lottery Corporation, poker, poker games, poker nights, poker tournaments, Prince Edward Island, VLT

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