Poker league to sue British policemen

2007-03-30 16:46:45

The Nuts Poker League has launched legal action against the West Mercia Police after alleging that the force misled UK pubs on the legality of hosting poker games, it has been revealed.

Last year police in West Mercia sent a letter to pubs in the county advising them that licenses could be lost if they hosted poker games, a move that the Nuts Poker League claimed was inaccurate and damaging to its business, the Publican has reported.

The league believes that its cash-free gameplay means it avoids falling foul of UK gambling regulations. Such rules are thought to be set to change following the introduction of a new Gambling Act this September.

"We have seen substantial growth [in poker] in many areas of the country, but there has been a downturn in the West Mercia region," league managing director Steve Bellis, told the Publican.

Mr Bellis' business is backed by money from investors Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden, who agreed to invest £65,000 in return for 40 per cent of the company's shares following Mr Bellis' appearance on hit BBC2 show Dragon's Den.


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