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Hall Suffers From Loss of Poker

MUNCIE, Indiana -- Members of a fraternal lodge that lost its bingo license for one year for using video poker machines say they were forced to sell their meeting hall after suffering a $2.6 million loss in gambling revenue.

The Indiana Department of Revenue, which oversees charity gaming licenses and enforces video gambling laws, closed down the video gambling operation at Eagles Lodge 231 in August 2002. At one point, the lodge had as many as 29 video poker machines.

Eagles secretary Ron Hughes said the loss of $2.6 million in annual gambling revenue "almost bankrupted us," and forced the lodge to sell its longtime meeting hall and move to a former restaurant.

The lodge's five-year license suspension was reduced to one year on appeal, however, and its bingo license will be reinstated in February, said Cathy Henninger of the Department of Revenue.

Copyright © Las Vegas Sun. Inc. Republished with permission.

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