Friday, Jan. 5, 2007

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Police eye unlicensed Nova Scotia poker tournament

By Erin Warner

Police were monitoring a hotel on a Nova Scotia native reserve after an online poker Web site advertised an unlicensed Texas Hold'em tournament there this weekend.

The event was scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday at the Super 8 Motel on the Millbrook First Nation near Truro in the Atlantic Canadian province.

However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's gaming section visited the site of the tournament and confirmed that the poker site hadn't received a license to host such as event.

A spokesperson for the RCMP said officers would continue to monitor the tournament's status and take "appropriate action" if it went ahead.

But a forum posting entitled "Legalities" published today on the poker Web site announces a change of venue for the event.

Instead of taking place at the hotel - which stated that it wouldn't honor the poker room's booking if the proper permits weren't in place - the tournament is taking place at a local bar and restaurant.

According to the provincial governing body responsible for gaming, poker and other card games can only be licensed in casino environments both on and off the reserve. The department's alcohol and gaming division is the only licensing agency in Nova Scotia.

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