WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Elmore DA: Weekend Charity Poker Tourney Illegal

Elmore DA: Weekend Charity Poker Tourney Illegal

There is a new gambling controversy in Elmore County, but there's a twist. This one involves a charity - the American Red Cross.

It all started when a local group called the River Region Poker Club appeared on WSFA 12 News at Noon. It was supposed to be a low-key promotion of a tournament this weekend.

The tournament was designed to promote a gambling website, partypoker.org. The entry fee was $25 dollars, and players could win a trip to Las Vegas.

But when Mayor Jo Glenn discovered it would happen at Wetumpka's National Guard Armory, she protested to D.A. Randall Houston, and the chips went down.

"Elmore County has never applied for or passed a constitutional amendment allowing charity bingo or charity gaming of any type. So, those activities are not lawful in Elmore County," Houston said.

That flat pronouncement begs the question: why didn't the Red Cross know it was illegal? CEO Jackie Buck declined an on-camera interview, but claims she asked the Poker Club to print a disclaimer saying the Red Cross didn't endorse the activity even though it would benefit from the funds. And, she claims, she thought it was legal, the equivalent of fundraisers like Victoryland.

Poker Club president Tom Isbell was also unavailable for an on-camera interview, but via phone he claimed he thought the tourney was in the clear,too.

"Sheriff Franklin had contacted the Attorney General's office prior to us setting this up. And agreed that this would be legal as long as there was a full accounting of the funds going to the Red Cross. So we proceeded on our program based on that," Isbell said.

But Houston says Franklin got bad advice from a newly hired AG Staffer. What's more he says the poker club should have known better.

"One of my assistant DA's has had communications with him for at least the last year. He's, I guess, requested that we sanction this event, and we have consistently refused to," Houston explained.

Tom Isbell from the Poker Club is supposed to meet with Randall Houston and someone from the Attorney General's office tomorrow. But he probably won't get anywhere.

Houston says he spoke with Attorney General Troy King Tuesday night. Houston says he supports Houston's interpretation of the law.

There another sign the tournament is on life support. Red Cross CEO Jackie Buck told WSFA her organization probably won't take any money from the group now. That means the tournament could lose its charity designation.

Reporter: Chris Holmes