HF357

Purpose

Explain and outline changes that would allow certain organized card game events (tournaments/contests) to take place under Minnesota law, with specific rules to keep them as social activities rather than gambling.

Main provisions

• Defines and regulates social skill game tournaments. A social skill game tournament must meet all of these requirements:
  • The games must be one of the listed card games of chance: cribbage, skat, sheepshead, bridge, euchre, hasenpfeffer, pinochle, gin, 500, smear, Texas Hold’em, or whist.
  • The organizer/promoter must not receive any direct financial benefit from the tournament.
  • The total prize value awarded at a single tournament or contest may not exceed $200.
  • For Texas Hold’em specifically:
  • No participant may be under 18.
  • No entry fee or other consideration may be required to participate.
  • The prize value awarded to an individual winner at a single location may not exceed $200 per day.
  • Organizers must ensure reasonable accommodations for players with disabilities.
    • Accommodations must include making the table and cards accessible, including using Braille cards for blind players and ensuring that the cards are visible to the entire table.
• The above provisions apply under the condition that sections 609.755 and 609.76 do not prohibit these tournaments or contests, as long as they satisfy the requirements listed.

Impact on existing law

• Expands the scope of permissible social card game activities by explicitly adding hasenpfeffer to the list of eligible games for social skill game tournaments.
• Codifies specific limits on prizes and participant eligibility to keep these activities within a non-gambling, community/social context.
• Introduces accessibility requirements (including Braille cards and visible card displays) for players with disabilities, particularly in Texas Hold’em events.
• Reframes these tournaments as permitted activities under existing sections (609.755 and 609.76) only when the stated conditions are met, clarifying that they are not automatically prohibited under current law.

Key details to know

• The term “Social skill game” is used to classify these tournaments.
• The phrase “games of chance commonly known as” appears in the bill, tying the listed games to this category.
• Emphasizes no direct financial benefit to promoters and strict prize caps to distinguish these from gambling activities.

Relevant Terms - Social skill game - Card games of chance - Tournaments or contests - Promoter or organizer - Prizes - Entry fee - Texas Hold’em - Under 18 / minors - Accommodations for disabilities - Braille cards - Visible cards - Hasenpfeffer - Cribbage - Skat - Sheepshead - Bridge - Euchre - Pinochle - Gin - 500 - Smear - Whist - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.761 subdivision 3 - Sections 609.755 and 609.76