Charity Poker Runs are now under the control of local county governments in Illinois.
Governor Pat Quinn signed the Poker Runs law Tuesday at Black Diamond Harley-Davidson in Marion. The law simplifies the permitting process and reduces the fee to a maximum of 25-dollars. Previously Poker runs were regulated by the state and cost as much as 600-dollars for a single permit. Now they will be treated like a raffle.
Pokers Runs typically involve five pre-determined stops where participants draw a playing card or a colored marble in an effort to build a winning poker hand. Pokers Runs are common throughout the state. State Senator Gary Forby of Benton says as many as 10-poker runs occur each week in southern Illinois and generate anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 for local causes.
The law takes effect immediately.