Connecticut Bar Owners Challenge Poker Ruling

At least one bar owner is planning a lawsuit challenging Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's July ruling that barroom poker tournaments violate state gambling laws. "I am going ahead with this no matter what," said David Rutigliano, who owns SBC bars in Stamford, Branford and Fairfield. "And I think I have a case." SBC is one of three Stamford bars that eliminated the popular tournaments after receiving cease-and-desist letters from Blumenthal. Temple Bar and Rack n' Roll also scrapped the tournaments. All three owners said they went ahead with the tournaments only after receiving approval from the state Liquor Control Division. They were told that the tournaments were legal so long as the bar did not take a slice of the money or force players to pay a cover charge or buy drinks, the owners said. Rutigliano said he followed the regulations. He charged each player a $40 entry fee, but the money was divided among the top finishers at the end of the night. The bar did not keep any money, he said. During the game, the players did not wager additional money, Rutigliano said. Each color chip was assigned a point value, not a dollar value. Players could lose only the $40 entry fee and an optional $20 "re-buy" fee if they lost all their chips within the first hour but wanted to get back in the game. Read More