If the clubs paid professional dealers, they could not make the social gaming claim. The Oregon constitution bans non-tribal casinos. The clubs used unpaid dealers so they could state they provided “social gaming,” originally designed to allow a bingo night at an Elks Club, for example. Attorney Mark Humphrey, representing the Aces Full poker club, said, “Obviously, the letter had a very profound effect because within a day Encore was closed. The former Encore Poker Club, one of the most popular in the city, shut down soon after and others are concerned about their futures. At least one club closed and others are concerned about their future.įifteen poker clubs in Portland, Oregon recently received letters from the city warning them to stop using “volunteer” in-house dealers who work for tips. Poker clubs in Portland used volunteer dealers who worked for tips to get around the constitutional ban on non-tribal casinos and qualify as 'social gaming.' But the city recently sent letters ordering the clubs to stop the practice.
