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Texas Hold'em is the New Bingo

KENTUCKY – As reported by the Cincinnati Post: "Picture yourself in a hall full of tables, with a half-dozen or so poker players seated at each one, all trying to be the last man sitting.

"Each player gets two cards, face down, and a chance to bet. The dealer then unveils three cards, known as the flop, then one, called the turn, and finally, the last card, known as the river.

"The winner uses his two cards and the five community cards to make the best poker hand -- or bets to persuade everyone else to think he has the best hand -- and take the pot.

"It's called Texas Hold 'Em, and it may one day become a significant source of revenue for local charities, said Tony Royalty, spokesman for the Kentucky Office of Charitable Gaming.

"…LaSalle High School in Monfort Heights had its first Texas Hold 'Em tournament last March, making it one of the first local organizations to do so.

"In January, the school held a bigger, three-day tournament with more than 600 players. Associate Director of Development Matt Dierkers estimates that it netted the school's athletic program close to $30,000.

"That's $10,000 a night, and you can't make that kind of money hosting a bingo. According to charitable gaming records, one of Northern Kentucky's most consistently successful bingo operations, the Glenn Cole Evangelistic Association, made less than $3,000 a night at its twice-weekly sessions in Covington last year.

"…It doesn't take much overhead to put on a poker tournament, said Sean Hennessy, a Westwood resident who has helped several charities.

"…In some tournaments, players who lose their chips can buy their way back in at a cheaper price. That's a popular option with charities, Hennessy said. Almost all of the players will buy their way back into the game at least once, he said, which means more money for the charity…"

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