Local police and prosecutors are warning poker aficionados and the establishments that accommodate poker tournaments to hold their cards or pay up.
Texas Hold 'Em, seven-card stud and Omaha are part of a trend sparked, in part, by TV shows that feature tournaments for celebrities and professional poker players that has everyone from young adults to senior citizens anteing in on the poker bandwagon.
But the gambling trend that's spread to local taverns has caught the steady eye of law enforcement.
In a letter dated Dec. 7 to Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy and Peoria Police Chief Gary Poynter, Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons said local card playing tournaments may be illegal, and those that are will not be tolerated.
"Sponsors and operators typically announce, remind, publicize and repeat that the events are free, totally free, for entertainment only and so on," Lyons wrote. "Each event, however, involves various forms of prizes or benefits and incorporates into the game chips, blinds, buy-backs and other customary features."
In Illinois, "a person commits gambling when he ... plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value ... or makes a wager upon the result of any game," according to state statues.
"Illinois law provides exceptions to this gambling prohibition, but under descriptions presented to our office, none apply," Lyons continued.
Even "offers of prizes, award or compensation" are limited only to "actual contestants in a bona fide contest for the determination of skill, speed, strength or endurance."
But "a determination of skill does not prevail when it involves and requires a selection or receipt of unknown cards by chance," Lyons said.
John Balaco, owner of Mulligans, said his bar had planned and even advertised a Texas Hold 'Em tournament every Thursday starting in November with a "no buy-in," but where winners receive cash prizes and the chance to compete for a trip to Las Vegas.
"It got nipped in the bud before it ever got off the ground," Balaco said, noting he received a letter from the Illinois Liquor Commission warning him of possible consequences.
So Balaco, wanting to continue the poker playing, took the only alternative by offering no prizes of any kind.
Landmark Recreation Center general manager Doug Holmes said he got approval from the city of Peoria and the Illinois Gaming Commission to hold poker tournaments, and did so on Tuesdays for three weeks before the state's liquor commission ended it.
"This is the hottest thing going on right now; we were just trying to get more traffic into the OTB," Holmes said. "They said, 'No more,' and we said, 'OK.' They make the rules, it's not worth (the hassle)."
McCoy said places that continue to offer illegal tournaments will receive a written notice.
"We understand it's popular. We know people want to play, but just because it's popular doesn't mean it's legal."
According to Illinois law, gamblers caught could be cited with a Class A misdemeanor. Those who establish or operate an illegal gambling operation could be cited with a Class 4 felony.
"I am fully aware of the yawning complaint that enforcement of the gambling statute should be ignored so that police can focus on some real crime like rapes, robberies and murders," Lyons wrote. "However, a subtle tolerance of other forms of small-time gambling has existed for years throughout this county and others, and I am unwilling to acquiesce here and push the boundaries of this tolerance further yet."