Mich. Nonprofits Rally Against State Rules on Charity Poker

Michigan charities and businesses involved with poker fundraisers demonstrated at the state Capitol in Lansing Tuesday against the state’s imposition of emergency rules tightening oversight of the events, MLive reports. Nonprofit leaders at the rally said the restrictions on so-called millionaire parties put in place July 2 have forced them to cut budgets and curb community projects.

A coalition of nonprofits claimed in a lawsuit filed in late August that the Michigan Gaming Control Board is using the emergency rules to get around an injunction blocking its efforts to restrict charity poker through normal regulatory channels, the Lansing State Journal reported at the time. The board said it has found illegal activity at the games and is acting to protect to protect charities and ensure that they, rather than for-profit poker rooms, benefit most from the events.