Home / Poker News October 2011 / The Poker Grapevine – Poker Not protected by First Amendment
The Poker Grapevine – Poker Not protected by First Amendment
Posted by: James Carter. - Sat, 2011-10-29 13:04
For those who thought the First Amendment’s “Freedom of Association” protected their poker rights: it doesn’t. Legal precedent has been created in this respect in the town of Wallkill where a group of poker players sued the town over a commercial space which the group used as their poker club’s headquarters and which the town had condemned.
The poker club had apparently occupied the commercial space in 2007. In their suit, members of the club alleged threatening and coercive conduct on the part of the town. According to the group, their club, which at one point numbered 130 members, saw membership go down the drain as a direct result of the town’s legal actions. The club known as AK Tournament Play felt its rights to freely associate slighted by the legal action.
According to the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the poker club’s arguments were void. A lower court had ruled against the suit filed against the town too.
In other news: those who bear any sort of a grudge against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuels will be able to put him in his place on November 15. They’ll only be able to do that at the green felt though, and that’s probably the best way to go for everyone concerned: the worst possible outcome for those playing against Samuels will thus be the dropping of their bankrolls, but even that will have a positive vibe to it, since the proceeds of the tournament will go to the Bring it Home Single Moms Foundation.
A whole bunch of high profile athletes will play in the event: Samuels’ teammates DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek will also play, together with the NBA’s Udonis Haslem and Keyon Dooling.
Tickets only cost $100. By paying out $1,000 though, players will be able to secure a seat at a table where one of the above listed athletes shall play.
