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SUTHERLIN -- A social gaming ordinance under consideration could legalize public low-stakes gambling if it is approved by the City Council.
The ordinance would allow businesses within the city limits to host social gaming with a permit.
The idea was first brought to the City Council last August when Larry Larson, a previous owner of The Cel Tavern, expressed interest in hosting poker games. It was tabled after the first reading the following month when Larson sold the tavern to Kathye Bailey.
Although Bailey had also expressed interest in hosting poker games, she said last year was not the right time to pursue the ordinance.
Now, almost a year later, Bailey said she is more comfortable operating The Cel and would like to see the ordinance passed, regardless of the requirement that the tavern would not be allowed to take any money from any of the games played.
"I don't care to make anything off of it. I want to provide a function for people to do," Bailey said.
Social gaming is different from charitable gambling, such as hosted by the Lions Club during a Texas Hold 'Em tournament to raise money earlier this year for the C. Giles Hunt Library construction. Social gaming would require a license from the city and not the Oregon Department of Justice.
Bailey's chance to host the games, in which players could bet no more than $1 per game and win no more than a dollar multiplied by how many people are playing, could come as soon as next month.
In spite of the amount of time between readings, the City Council has the option of picking up where it left off, and could approve social gaming during its next council meeting, said Emily Jerome, Sutherlin's city attorney.
The ordinance wouldn't take effect immediately, and there is still a waiting period of at least 30 days between when an application for a social gaming license is submitted and when the license would be effective.
During that time, the Sutherlin Police Department would investigate, among other possibly disqualifying criteria, if the applicant has any felony convictions within the last 10 years, any convictions of crimes involving gambling within the last five years, or has had his or her liquor license suspended or revoked by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission within the last five years.
Sutherlin Police Chief Tom Boggs said he doesn't envision any long-term problems or an increase in the department's workload if the City Council approves social gaming, although it may take some time for the newness to wear off.
"If you're playing poker to make money, you're not going to do it playing a dollar game. You're going to go to Seven Feathers," Boggs said.
The biggest issues, Boggs said, would likely be cheaters, and could warrant more bar patrols.
"We will just have to kind of play it by ear," Boggs said.
Not all of the councilors may be in favor of the prospect of even low-stakes gambling coming to Sutherlin.
Councilors Ann O'Key and Marsha Price voted against the original request, as did Mayor Joe Mongiovi. Councilor Wayne Luzier cast the only vote against tabling it in September.
Mongiovi is still against the possibility of social gambling in Sutherlin, but said he's willing to let the City Council discuss the ordinance.
"I voted against it for, number one, a lot of the people here in town don't want it, and we've got gambling all over the state. I don't see establishing gambling in a local bar," Mongiovi said.
Bailey, meanwhile, has said her regulars at The Cel Tavern have asked her to suggest the council take another look at the ordinance.
"I just think that anything you can bring them that gives them something to do keeps them out of trouble," Bailey said.
* You can reach reporter Erik Skoog at 957-4202 or by e-mail at eskoog@newsreview.info.
The ordinance would allow businesses within the city limits to host social gaming with a permit.
The idea was first brought to the City Council last August when Larry Larson, a previous owner of The Cel Tavern, expressed interest in hosting poker games. It was tabled after the first reading the following month when Larson sold the tavern to Kathye Bailey.
Although Bailey had also expressed interest in hosting poker games, she said last year was not the right time to pursue the ordinance.
Now, almost a year later, Bailey said she is more comfortable operating The Cel and would like to see the ordinance passed, regardless of the requirement that the tavern would not be allowed to take any money from any of the games played.
"I don't care to make anything off of it. I want to provide a function for people to do," Bailey said.
Social gaming is different from charitable gambling, such as hosted by the Lions Club during a Texas Hold 'Em tournament to raise money earlier this year for the C. Giles Hunt Library construction. Social gaming would require a license from the city and not the Oregon Department of Justice.
Bailey's chance to host the games, in which players could bet no more than $1 per game and win no more than a dollar multiplied by how many people are playing, could come as soon as next month.
In spite of the amount of time between readings, the City Council has the option of picking up where it left off, and could approve social gaming during its next council meeting, said Emily Jerome, Sutherlin's city attorney.
The ordinance wouldn't take effect immediately, and there is still a waiting period of at least 30 days between when an application for a social gaming license is submitted and when the license would be effective.
During that time, the Sutherlin Police Department would investigate, among other possibly disqualifying criteria, if the applicant has any felony convictions within the last 10 years, any convictions of crimes involving gambling within the last five years, or has had his or her liquor license suspended or revoked by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission within the last five years.
Sutherlin Police Chief Tom Boggs said he doesn't envision any long-term problems or an increase in the department's workload if the City Council approves social gaming, although it may take some time for the newness to wear off.
"If you're playing poker to make money, you're not going to do it playing a dollar game. You're going to go to Seven Feathers," Boggs said.
The biggest issues, Boggs said, would likely be cheaters, and could warrant more bar patrols.
"We will just have to kind of play it by ear," Boggs said.
Not all of the councilors may be in favor of the prospect of even low-stakes gambling coming to Sutherlin.
Councilors Ann O'Key and Marsha Price voted against the original request, as did Mayor Joe Mongiovi. Councilor Wayne Luzier cast the only vote against tabling it in September.
Mongiovi is still against the possibility of social gambling in Sutherlin, but said he's willing to let the City Council discuss the ordinance.
"I voted against it for, number one, a lot of the people here in town don't want it, and we've got gambling all over the state. I don't see establishing gambling in a local bar," Mongiovi said.
Bailey, meanwhile, has said her regulars at The Cel Tavern have asked her to suggest the council take another look at the ordinance.
"I just think that anything you can bring them that gives them something to do keeps them out of trouble," Bailey said.
* You can reach reporter Erik Skoog at 957-4202 or by e-mail at eskoog@newsreview.info.
