Dear Editor,
I am a senior and currently a member of the Minoru Place Seniors’ Centre. For several years, I have enjoyed playing cards (whist, euchre and cribbage) at the centre with other members, who I now consider friends.
For us, playing cards is an important part of our weekly social activity; it gets us out of our homes/apartments and brings us together for an afternoon or evening of self-made enjoyment.
In the past, with the centre’s full knowledge, we have been able to pay a small amount at the commencement of an afternoon or evening of cards (25 cents or $1 or $2 per member). It is simply a token payment for playing cards in the hopes of a small reward and, more importantly, an acknowledgement for those members who had played well — or poorly. Yes, there can be an acknowledgement for the lowest score and/or possibly a random draw or two.
You only have to see the smiles on the faces of the winners, or otherwise recognized players, to understand the added excitement and fun it provides at the conclusion of an enjoyable afternoon or evening of playing cards.
The management of the centre, at the request of the City of Richmond, has recently informed all of its members that there can no longer to be any money exchanged, as that would qualify as gambling.
I understand management is attempting to address a problem in which more significant amounts of money are being played for by Texas Hold’em poker and Mahjong players.
In attempting to deal with this problem, they have used a very “broad brush” that unfairly punishes all members.
Why can they not set a maximum dollar limit of $1 or $2 for an entire afternoon or evening of cards?
If the agreed-upon maximum dollar limit is then exceeded by any group, management at the centre can take appropriate steps to deal with the problem group harshly by eliminating that activity.
I play whist on Monday evenings from 6:15 to 9 p.m. Each member pays 25 cents to play; an amount that has not changed in 27 years. With an average attendance of 24 members, the upfront money totals only $6, which is later split between six or seven fortunate members. I do not consider this gambling as there is no significant financial risk or reward for a players’ outcome and, as I mentioned earlier, even the lowest score wins something. It is simply a token payment that adds an additional element of excitement and fun to an entire afternoon or evening of playing cards.
I, and other members, believe it is time for management at the centre and, ultimately, the city, to see reason and fairness by deciding to allow the centre’s various card groups the option of establishing an up-to-$2 maximum buy-in or participation fee for its various card games.
Such a decision would enable our whist, euchre and cribbage players to continue enjoying their card playing activities in the same responsible way we have for many years.
John D. Wells
Richmond
