News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Charities will have a new, enhanced opportunity to raise funds through charitable gaming as part of a new program introduced as a result of the province's new Responsible Gaming Policy.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau announced that the terms and conditions to hold charitable Texas Hold 'Em tournaments are now in place. The terms and conditions along with applications are available through the Department of Public Safety and online at: http://www.gnb.ca/0276/publications/TexasHoldem-e.pdf.

"One of the four pillars of our Responsible Gaming Policy was to strengthen charitable gaming, and included our commitment to license Texas Hold 'Em tournaments for charities," Boudreau said. "We are pleased to follow up on our commitment. We have received many requests for these types of tournaments to be licensed, and we know that many charities will be able to help more people and communities because of the new policy."

The new responsible gaming policy, announced Nov. 8, 2007, included cutting the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in the province by nearly 25 per cent, from 2,650 machines to 2,000. The number of sites where they are located will be cut by more than 50 per cent, from 625 to 300. The policy also includes doubling responsible gaming programs and research funding to $1.5 million. In addition, a request for proposals (RFP) for one destination casino to be constructed and operated in the province by the private sector was part of the policy.

Texas Hold 'Em is a widely played poker game which has become very popular throughout the world in recent years.

Charitable tournaments in New Brunswick will have a stringent set of rules attached which will include:

• A maximum of 35 per cent of the proceeds from a tournament can be used toward prizes. The maximum prize for any one individual cannot exceed $3,000.
• A maximum of 20 per cent of entry fee revenue generated can be used towards allowable expenses such as cards, tables, chips, etc.
• The balance of proceeds (a minimum of 45 per cent of the total) goes to the charity.
• Entry fees for a tournament cannot exceed $100.
• No one under the age of 19 can play in or attend a tournament.
• A maximum of 200 players can participate in any one tournament.

The policy in its entirety, Responsible Management, Responsible Play in a Responsible Environment: A Responsible Approach to Gaming in New Brunswick, can be found at: http://www.gnb.ca/0162/gaming/Gaming_policy-e.asp.