Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council is seeking more information about social gambling before considering the possibility of writing a new ordinance to allow it.
Under a social gambling ordinance, local businesses may be allowed to host poker tournaments, but they not profit directly from them. Local business might profit from them through the sale of food and drinks.
T&M Pizza owner Frank Chau approached the City Council during its regular meeting on Nov. 23 to request the council adopt an ordinance allowing social gambling. The council’s public safety committee has already reviewed the request and chosen not to recommend any changes in Sweet Home’s ordinance.
“I know there’s a lot of doubt for the council members ? for social gambling,” Chau told the council, but he pointed to the City of Lebanon where the Pizza Factory is allowed to hold poker tournaments, which seem to be doing well with nobody causing any trouble.
“It seems fair that Sweet Home would give T&M the same shot to do the same thing,” Chau said. Many residents of Sweet Home are already holding poker tournaments at their homes, which are poorly regulated, allowing exposure to minors and not regulating alcohol consumption.
In business establishments, minors could be kept away from the gambling, and servers are trained by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to stop serving those who have had too much to drink.
“You’re going to create accidents by having those tournaments at home,” Chau said. He is trying to create a safer environment for people to hold these tournaments.
T&M would just provide the place for persons to hold tournaments, Chau stressed. He would not profit from the tournaments. Rather, the tournaments would help promote sales at his restaurant.
Current ordinance forbids social gambling, except for a game called “pan.” It permits churches and civic and fraternal organizations to hold social gambling tournaments.
Under state law, Police Chief Bob Burford said, the city can pass an ordinance to permit social gambling hosted by businesses.
“I don’t think it’s (problems from social gambling) is going to be huge, but I don’t know what to expect,” Chief Burford said. If a poker room were open every night, there would more room for more problems.
“Frank does run a very good operation,” Chief Burford said. “We’ve had little problem out of there, if any.”
If two to three establishments begin competing in social gambling though, Chief Burford is concerned that problems could develop.
Chau is planning one tournament a week with a low buy-in for persons who enjoy playing for the sake of the game rather than those who are focused more on gambling.
He told the council that residents will leave Sweet Home to spend their money at Spirit Mountain or Chinook Winds casinos or at tournaments in places like Lebanon. By allowing social gambling, it could keep the money in Sweet Home. It also would draw money from out of town. Many persons come from out of town for the Lebanon tournaments.
“This is a door I hate to see open in this city,” Councilman Bob McIntyre said. He has lived in cities where social gambling was permitted, and “I can’t see where it’s an improvement to our city at all.”
Sweet Home resident Karla Burcham confirmed to the city council that these tournaments are held at private homes. She asked the council if it could pass an ordinance then review it in a year. She also suggested gathering more information from cities that allow it.
She would support an ordinance permitting social gambling, but she would not favor seeing a tournament more than once a week.
“I think people in Sweet Home might look on it favorably,” Burcham said.
Councilwoman Jessica Coward suggested gathering more information before making a decision on the issue.
Councilman Jim Gourley agreed and said it is a “divisive issue.”
“I go along with Councilor McIntyre,” Councilman Dick Hill said. “We’re going to open the door. The town’s been operating very well with this (existing) ordinance over the years.”
About 20 years ago, the issue was raised, former Mayor Ruth Ganta told the council. A group complained that gambling would draw the Mafia into Sweet home and all the young people would turn into gamblers.
The ban on social gambling really is not right, Ganta said. “If you don’t know right from wrong when you’re 21, lose your money.”
The area already has poker machines and other state gambling at restaurants, Ganta said. She asked if the Mafia had come in.
“The gambling machine’s are quite different,” Councilman Jim Bean said. “The poker machines are quite different.”
The machines benefit the state and cities, Bean said. The issue is divisive and he suggested a community meeting to get an idea of the community’s desire.
“My sense is the community doesn’t want it,” Bean said.
“I think you might be surprised at the number of people that would support this,” Councilman Craig Fentiman said. He doesn’t mind the tournaments at homes. What persons do in their own homes is their private business, but he would like more research on a possible ordinance change.
A public meeting would “give us a chance to air it out,” Fentiman said.
“There will be religious groups that believe this is a sin and be against it,” Chau said. “No matter if the majority is for it or against it, the minority still has their rights. f the majority says we’re going to shut down the minority, then it’s wrong.”
If social gambling created a problem in the city that hurt people, then it should be restricted, Chau said. If it created public safety issues, then he could see the need for the existing ordinance.
With more information, Mayor Tim McQueary said, he would consider a new ordinance to permit social gambling.
“I do respect the decision you guys make, whether you allow social gambling or not,” Chau told the council.
City staff will research information about social gambling in other communities.