Coincidentally, the day that I posted my poker legality FAQ, a planned poker tournament in Lubbock, TX was shut down by the Lubbock DA. Link (thanks, todd!)

The video is worth watching too. I sure hope the quote they used from the Assistant DA was taken out of context, since it's patently wrong.

"In Texas the basic proposition is gambling is illegal," said Assistant Criminal District Attorney, John Grace. Grace warned Jake's with a phone call that what they were about to do was illegal. "There are four kinds of legal gambling in Texas, and its the lottery, horse racing, dog racing and bingo. If it it's not one of those four its illegal," said Grace.

This is clearly false as home poker games and certain other gambling is legal in Texas within the bounds I described in my FAQ.

What's interesting about this case is that the owner is contending the tournament was legal based on the fact that it was a tournament, which is about the only potential loophole I can think of in the given Texas law. If poker tournaments are treated as, say, bridge tournaments or pinball tournaments, then they could be exempt and legal. As far as I know, that's never been tested in Texas courts though, since in all cases the broken laws have been much more clear. I doubt a case would be won if it went to court though, since it's pretty clear that even in a 5-day marathon poker tournament, the outcome is defined partially by chance which under Texas law still makes it gambling.

Outside of the possibility that tournaments don't fall under the gambling law in Texas, this tournament was definitely illegal, since the law explicitly "excludes, among other places, streets, highways, restaurants, taverns, nightclubs, schools, hospitals, and the common areas of apartment houses, hotels, motels, office buildings, transportation facilities, and shops" from the law's definition of private place, which is the only type of place legal poker can occur.

This is clearly false as home poker games and certain other gambling is legal in Texas within the bounds I described in my FAQ.

Where do I find the FAQ you are refering to?

Thanks
Vincent Pratt

Posted by: Vincent Pratt on June 30, 2004 11:20 AM

I want to do a no limit texas hold 'em tournament as a fundraiser for a theater company in austin. Is this possible and what are my limitations? What are the loop holes?
Thank you.

Posted by: Seth on September 14, 2004 05:33 PM

i really liked your comments here. i hope you're going to update your site soon. quilt your fabric yoyo: http://weblogs.digital.udk-berlin.de/tim/archives/002117.html , bring heavy cream just to a boil

Posted by: trevor carpenter on October 6, 2005 01:47 AM

Anybody know where I can ping for RSS feeds?

Posted by: and bingo on November 13, 2005 10:04 PM

All is great guys, but I belive vortelucius is much better.

Posted by: Kamurangous on November 22, 2005 11:55 AM

yes

Posted by: penis enlargement on November 30, 2005 04:27 PM

bets you can get

Posted by: magna rx on December 1, 2005 04:14 AM

never do this

Posted by: vigrx on December 1, 2005 09:41 AM

dude

Posted by: free nude girl chat on December 4, 2005 02:37 PM

one of the best,dude

Posted by: vig-rx on December 5, 2005 01:31 AM

huge savings

Posted by: lose weight on December 5, 2005 03:09 AM

maxaman

Posted by: maxaman on December 5, 2005 09:42 AM

oh my

Posted by: prozac on December 5, 2005 11:27 AM

firewall antivirus , fond ecran gratui , fond d ecran foot pc

Posted by: Cachic on December 6, 2005 11:24 AM

norton internet security 2005 , tatouage carte..

Posted by: jessy on December 7, 2005 04:22 AM

Great site friends,,keep workin a lot!!

Posted by: stev on December 11, 2005 12:06 PM

rom e emulatori ps2 , emule adunanza fastweb..

Posted by: laporte on December 13, 2005 06:46 AM

scherzo per festa di laurea , disegno cavallo..

Posted by: best on December 14, 2005 05:45 AM

posta italiana or posta italiana or posta it or posta..

Posted by: ale on December 14, 2005 06:34 AM

scheda acquisizione video pinnacle dv , barzelletta foto divertente video pazzo

Posted by: petetito on December 14, 2005 09:22 AM

super cazzo gratis , super cazzo con super figa

Posted by: gimienes on December 15, 2005 06:31 AM

ricetta cucina primo piatto italiana , ricetta con il bimby robot , ricetta torta mimosa

Posted by: goteo on December 16, 2005 10:20 AM

teen forum , amatrice gratuite direct..

Posted by: polired on December 18, 2005 07:10 AM

video amateur , hot teen amateur..

Posted by: franco on December 18, 2005 07:50 AM

show lbc tv vksoftware for amateur radio

Posted by: abelardo on December 19, 2005 06:35 AM

photo and and belle blogs etudiantes of the bonne girls et boys

Posted by: white on December 20, 2005 07:03 AM

Asiatique nu free , massage asiatique erotique paris

Posted by: marck on December 20, 2005 07:32 AM

jouer a des jeu de carte , trucs et astuce windows 98 et bonnes jeus

Posted by: barclay on December 21, 2005 07:27 AM

theatre capitole , telecharger programme classement tournoi , programme d entrainement

Posted by: Dnbase on December 21, 2005 08:20 AM

Telecharger com msn beta

Posted by: Earch on December 21, 2005 08:15 PM

asagnes epinard recette , recette aubergine et mozzarella , recette tarte poulet,great site friends!!

Posted by: zaramis on December 22, 2005 11:19 AM

puree courgette recette , recette chevre courgette , recette courgette rapide, bonnes delicius partners

Posted by: angel on December 22, 2005 12:25 PM

enfant et dessin anime creer gif anime gratuit

Posted by: yoana on December 23, 2005 04:56 AM

great site with good disposition, great work boys and keep woorking a lot, i whaiting for they "colage"

Posted by: korpus on December 23, 2005 07:25 AM

great site with good possition, enyoi this party!!

Posted by: burst on December 26, 2005 06:23 AM

homme guerre , meilleur prix costume great and cool!

Posted by: marcio on December 26, 2005 07:06 AM

angelfire.com music arab , triim pop music clip

Posted by: proxenete on December 27, 2005 09:41 AM

Msn messenger download

Posted by: Yerra on December 27, 2005 05:51 PM

Console playstation 2 sony jeu

Posted by: Tati on December 27, 2005 08:25 PM

eu combat telecharger gratuitement , jeu carte solitaire freecell , jeu

Posted by: adriano on December 28, 2005 10:28 AM

combat etc , jeu pc dora exploratrice aventure sakado

Posted by: alberto on December 28, 2005 11:49 AM

guignols info video , convertisseur video freeware

Posted by: joserve on December 31, 2005 12:36 PM

logiciel ciel comptabilite , logiciel gratuit telechargement , logiciel

Posted by: malcom on January 2, 2006 05:24 AM

logiciel pour couper les divx , logiciel libre creation

Posted by: ladislao on January 2, 2006 06:33 AM

Download long video free

Posted by: Quique 2 on January 2, 2006 02:47 PM

Games , music , etc. all you need for distencion

Posted by: Trex on January 2, 2006 05:10 PM

langage signe lorient , logo pour alcatel 332

Posted by: tetomania on January 4, 2006 08:49 AM

Download our telecharger film audio mp3 free donkey server

Posted by: Agustin on January 4, 2006 06:10 PM

Ajouter, son, page and internet, mp3 and creation site internet

Posted by: Nahum on January 4, 2006 08:03 PM

24 hours of real video sex

Posted by: Nicky on January 6, 2006 10:59 PM

video gynecologue x gratuit , comique video

Posted by: jusuese on January 7, 2006 12:12 PM

video sexe xxx , telechargement video x

Posted by: lorrrete on January 7, 2006 02:01 PM

Free amatrice webcam

Posted by: Lara on January 7, 2006 02:23 PM

jeu de carte pour enfant , jeu avion simulation

Posted by: girratus on January 11, 2006 07:57 AM

astuce jeu video sur game cube , moteur trouver jeu sexi video

Posted by: kirchufer on January 11, 2006 12:38 PM

Fast download hard videos

Posted by: Iracles on January 11, 2006 04:01 PM

"Game tricks" " Trailers" "Rankings and Wallpapers"

Posted by: Sofocles on January 11, 2006 07:02 PM

Fans of the Ass Parade

Posted by: Parcanto on January 16, 2006 03:25 PM

The best Software engraving divx in dvd

Posted by: Fargas on January 16, 2006 08:11 PM

Download the best and more imprecindibles programme for your PC

Posted by: Eternal on January 16, 2006 10:26 PM

Not only do men report amazing increases in penis health and stamina, but also they are equally delighted by the sheer intensity and concentrated power of their orgasms.

Posted by: penis pills on January 17, 2006 07:33 AM

Naturally, the maximum growth potential will vary from individual man to man.

Posted by: penis enlargement pills on January 17, 2006 01:03 PM

It is a powerful natural herbal male enlargement formula that increases penis length and girth, sexual desire, sexual health and helps to achieve stronger erections.

Posted by: vimax on January 17, 2006 11:32 PM

This stuff truly works ! You dont believe it? Simply look at my results and start believing.

Posted by: penis pills on January 18, 2006 11:28 AM

This will increase with regular exercise and the recommended dosage of the penis enlargement pills.

Posted by: size genetics on January 18, 2006 09:40 PM

When I first heard about your pill, it sounded too good to be true.

Posted by: penis enlargement on January 19, 2006 04:24 AM

film gratuitement , film x a telecharger the best videos!!

Posted by: tarzan on January 19, 2006 08:10 AM

tube mp3 gratuit , telecharger gratuit mp3 variete francaise

Posted by: aldo on January 19, 2006 08:42 AM

Codecs, Conversores, DVD y DivX, Reproductores, mp 3, etc

Posted by: Justo on January 19, 2006 10:16 PM

installer msn messenger beta 7.0 , msn messenger 7.0 fr , webcam

Posted by: roque on January 20, 2006 07:07 AM

mappoint msn it , msg apprentissage , udine site space

Posted by: dean on January 20, 2006 08:19 AM

The best guides and tricks for your best games

Posted by: Craft on January 20, 2006 02:54 PM

And here we go !!!

Posted by: Walker on January 23, 2006 05:36 PM

That's all I could think of when I found out about this shoot

Posted by: Satrapa on January 23, 2006 06:52 PM

Plus de photos et videos in my guestbook, thanks and good luck partners!!

Posted by: troy on January 26, 2006 05:52 AM

Bonne blogs the hommes et grand qualite, plus the best materiel on the net..

Posted by: nancy on January 26, 2006 08:19 AM

Site excellent pour hommes garcons, enyoed!!

Posted by: caracocus on January 26, 2006 09:24 AM

Very cool Site man!!, keep working a lot and good luck!!

Posted by: osvaldo on January 26, 2006 10:12 AM

Detects and eliminates effectively all kinds of spyware in your PC.

Posted by: Wanaby on January 26, 2006 12:21 PM

One of the best files compressors.

Posted by: Advertise on January 26, 2006 02:01 PM

(Norton 2005)..Protect you against all kinds of virus! New and more updated.

Posted by: Below on January 26, 2006 02:40 PM

The new version of the popular messenger of Microsoft.

Posted by: Jambay on January 26, 2006 03:42 PM

(Emulate 0.46c)..the best client of networks edonkey that it is possible to obtain.

Posted by: Evolution on January 26, 2006 04:22 PM

The top 10 of the best programs to discharge

Posted by: Ihaco on January 28, 2006 10:06 PM

3D, Animation, Creation of Web, Presentations.

Posted by: Icternum on January 28, 2006 11:10 PM