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Part of the controversy of online gambling is the potential rise in crime. Many legislators are worried that the increase of online gambling will bring problems for the communities that they are ill equipped to manage. One issue occurred recently involving elderly citizens participating in gatherings at the Twin Falls Senior Center in the state of Idaho. It all began with an innocuous poker game played by citizens in their retirement years. Mostly it was another social gathering in which the gamers were able to socialize and have some fun. Unfortunately, they were quickly thwarted in their activities by local police.

The senior citizens came to the Twin Falls Senior Center with $20 to enter the game. It has happened for months now and was a welcomed change in the normal ritual. The growing popularity of the game may have been what eventually brought about its demise. The reality is that gambling in the state of Idaho is illegal and that includes small games held at senior centers. Fortunately the seniors were given the opportunity to change their ways by heeding the warning given to them by the local police department. Many weren’t happy about the change though.

The seniors participating saw the games as a dual advantage. First, they were able to get out of their homes and socialize. The activity is exciting and allowed them a change from their normal routine. Secondly, it also allowed them to reap the benefits of wagering and winning. The $20 buy-in created a good pot and the lucky winners walked away with a great payout of additional money for the week. Many tried to argue with local police stating that the game was merely a “friendly” one, but the law is the law. Idaho statues hold that gambling is defined as any money-generating risk that involves crediting anything of value to players. Though the seniors had been participating in the games for over five years, an anonymous tip was their eventual downfall. It will be sorely missed by the participants, but the law dictates that they need to cease and desist with their games until Idaho law changes.

An Idaho legislator wants to lighten the laws surrounding the very current topic of informal gambling.  Boise Democrat, Grant Burgoyne, says he wants to drop a law that states that police officers must go after office betting pools and any similar type of gambling. The rule currently is strict. If an Idaho police officer were to catch someone gambling, even in an informal setting such as an office betting pool for the Super Bowl or a private home,  and the police officer were to ignore this infraction, or not do something about it can currently be charged with a misdemeanor because of a decades-old law still on the books.

Grant Burgoyne says that police officers should be able to exercise discretion when pursuing potential low-level gambling offenses.  His bill would get rid of the law.  The House State Affairs Committee voted unanimously to send his measure to the House Wednesday. Burgoyne said he doesn’t think police officers should spend their time worrying about and pursuing “your mother-in-law’s football betting pool” or other small time offenses. Despite the move, many feel that Burgoyne is opening the door for problems. If police officers are left to their own devices when it comes to rules, it may create a huge disparity in law enforcements. It also could encourage corruption and other illegal activities. There are many questions with the decision and critics are not easing up on their stand against allowing individual police officers the ability to make the rules.

Another problem critics have is that as a whole, a state cannot inforce the law “some of the time.” Many opponents believe that state’s legislators have to pick one way or another what is going to be done. The state, like many others is currently embroiled in legalizing and regulating gambling within its borders. It’s difficult to say who is going to win out on the arguments. All that is for sure is that the vagueness of the law won’t hold up as the hobby becomes legalized and used in the state for fund-raising. Legislators are going to have to make clear cut decisions on what the law is and what requirements officers have to uphold it.