Lawmakers Gather for Texas Hold 'Em Tournament

Eight state representatives and senators gathered Saturday to play Texas Hold 'em -- in advance of a Senate hearing on legislation that would make the poker game legal in Minnesota.

Sen. Dave Kleis, R-St. Cloud, has introduced the legislation that would make Texas Hold 'em tournaments legal as long as prizes aren't worth more than $200.

The legislation was in response to a bust last year at Granite Bowl in which more than 40 people were detained, but no charges were filed.

The Saturday game also was at Granite Bowl, with owner Dave Bischoff nearby. Bischoff started the weekly tournaments again after the criminal case was closed. The tournament has grown from its prebust days of about 40 players to 70, he said. The prizes still are hats and T-shirts, he said.

Only about half the legislators in Saturday's game had played before.

"It's harder to do than I expected," said Rep. Andy Westerberg, R-Blaine.

Kleis was the first one out.

"No wonder we have budget problems," he joked. "I think we can legislate better than we play poker."

The game ended with several back-and-forth hands between Sen. Dave Hann, an Eden Prairie Republican, and Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar.

Hackbarth ended up taking the top prize -- a T-shirt.

"My dad was a great poker player," he said. "I watched him."

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