Phil Gordon, host of Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown," did his part to help Minnesota residents get one step closer to playing legal Texas hold'em tournaments. He was in the capital, endorsing a bill, which would assign Texas hold'em poker to the list of legal "social skill games." The bill recently secured committee approval before being forwarded to Minnesota's Senate Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

Gordon made an appearance at a news conference for the bill, where he played a televised game of Texas hold'em against the bill's endorser, Sen. Dave Kleis. Following the game, Gordon testified before the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee in favor of the bill.

The bill seeks to add Texas hold'em poker to the list of legal "social skill games," which currently includes bridge, cribbage, euchre, 500, gin, pinochle, sheepshead, skat, smear and whist. Games classified as being social skill-based may be played in tournament form, for prizes of up to $200.

Upon being forwarded to the senate committee, two provisions were added to the bill to further regulate Texas hold'em tournaments, should they become legal. According to these additions, tournament operators could be required to pay up to $200 to obtain necessary permits and tournament participation would be restricted to participants 18 years of age and above.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Thursday, 24 March 2005