He has filed a legislative service request to draft a bill that would impose some type of state tax on high-stakes poker profits. The proposal would be considered in the legislative session that begins in January.
"I'm not suggesting that we tax the winners," Kurk said.
"We need to take a good serious look at whether promoters may be taking an unacceptably large portion of the gross and charities are not getting enough. It seems we've increased the amount of revenue by an order of magnitude and we need to look at that as an issue," he said.
Similarly, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, voiced "concern" in an interview about the rapidly expanding popularity of poker tournaments.
D'Allesandro has supported the legalization of video poker machines at the four racetracks in the state. He views that as a way to create jobs and revitalize the racing industry.
"This is a little different," the senator said of the poker tournaments.
"Shouldn't there be uniformity? Shouldn't there be monitoring? And shouldn't the state be receiving revenue from these poker tournaments? Those are all questions that should be answered," D'Allesandro said.
The fast-paced "Texas Hold'Em" style poker tournaments arrived at the Manchester Bingo Center last January. The sponsor was On the Road to Recovery, a charity that helps the mentally disabled.
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If you're having a bad time at the tables, take a break. In fact, take breaks anyway just to keep yourself fresh and fed.
