Tuesday 1 April 2008

Poker to save Pubs?

A new craze is sweeping pubs in Scotland and could soon be exported to England. According to my dear friends at Scotland on Sunday, since the relaxation of the laws on gambling in pubs, poker playing is helping to fill empty boozers midweek. Pub Poker League was introduced to the UK as an investment opportunity on BBC2's Dragon's Den. Aided by changes in the Gaming Act 2005, which allowed gambling in bars, it has become a big hit.

The rules are strict: no one is allowed to gamble more than £5 a game and no bar is allowed to have more than £100 total winnings available on a single night.

So while it might not be as attractive as cask ale in brothels, it may well come to a pub near you, so better sharpen up your knowledge of Texas Holdem and the like!

Read all about it here.

8 comments:

Sat In A Pub said...

As usual, Bury leads the way. We've had poker in GBG pubs here for awhile. Very entertaining although I find it does interfere with my drinking.

The Beer Nut said...

Anything's better than those awful machines.

Why, in a country where so many people are concerned about, and actively involved in, preserving the great pub tradition with its beer and its atmosphere, is there no campaign against those blinky-lighted bastards?

Sat In A Pub said...

Agree 100% they are a nuisance, but they are an easy source of revenue for a pub/bar.

The Beer Nut said...

So's keg beer, but one group in particular discourages pubs from stocking it, yet doesn't seem to have a problem with fruit machines, from what I've read.

Tandleman said...

If we are talking JDW, at least they have the sound turned off.

Anonymous said...

Think it's a great idea as long as stakes are small. PLaying poker after a few drinks is VERY expensive

Anonymous said...

did you get paid for this piece?

Tandleman said...

Look at the links and read the piece. Clearly not.