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November 06, 2007
Messing With Cribbage
The state has gone too far.
GARDINER -- Bill Meserve passed hours playing cribbage with other veterans at American Legion Post No. 4.No kidding. What is this, the Sopranos? The state's not getting their cut, so they shut down a game by force?The 87-year-old World War II veteran said the $5 entry fee to play in cribbage tournaments on Sundays was an inexpensive way for someone on a fixed income to have fun.
But that all ended a couple of weeks ago when a state inspector walked into the Gardiner Legion post and shut 'em down.
The inspector told players their game was illegal because the Legion had not acquired a license to host games of chance.
Meserve said he still can't believe state government would do such a thing to a bunch of old veterans who risked their lives for their country.
What a complete lack of perspective. This is a penny-ante cribbage game played at Legion halls, not a million-dollar gambling operation. Just let the old folks play. (H/t: FishFearMe)
Posted by slublog at November 6, 2007 10:18 PM
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Comments
Nanny State marches on. I just did a piece on the Nannies at AFA wanting to take away soldier's ability to get pr0n, Gabe linked it at AoS. I might have to link this story.
Posted by: sinistar at November 7, 2007 12:28 AM
B-but, they're not paying their license fees and the proper taxes on their winnings! Won't somebody please think of the children?
Posted by: Sean M. at November 7, 2007 05:02 AM
What makes me mad about this is that no one seems to take into consideration all the Philanthropy that the Department of Maine American Legion is engaged in. Maine Legionnaires give a ton on money to things like the Children's Miracle Network, American Legion baseball teams, the Boys State program and a bunch of other stuff. If you keep taking away the reasons for them all to meet, that philanthropy goes away too.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Posted by: Thus Spake Ortner at November 7, 2007 08:28 AM
When I used to live in Maine, the license plates had five numerals, so every car was a cribbage hand. We found a 28 once. Is it still that way?
Posted by: mainiacjoe at November 7, 2007 11:46 AM
Don't you know that your right to play and bet on cribbage comes from the State?
Posted by: harrison at November 8, 2007 08:34 AM
When I lived in Maine, we got around the state laws regarding BINGO by calling it BEANO! We had to yell BEANO! whenever we won. These were not big time games, either. I once won $35 in one night. I'm still running from the law....
Posted by: Rebecca at November 8, 2007 08:36 AM
Chance?? Cribbage takes serious skill! Their heads are in dark places.
Congratulations on your win!
Posted by: Terri at November 9, 2007 06:26 PM
They can take my pegs from my cold, dead hands. Maine must've taken its lessons on gaming from Wisconsin governor Jim "Craps" Doyle (WEAC/Potawatomi-For Sale).
Posted by: steveegg at November 11, 2007 07:41 PM