Ashland poker club shut down

A state agency’s ruling that a poker club’s activities violated state law led to the shutdown of the gaming business.

The Oregon Department of Justice’s Charitable Gaming Unit said that some membership dues and fees charged by The Downtown Poker Club were outside the rules established for social gaming clubs. Following that ruling, the Ashland Elk’s Lodge, which owns the building on Will Dodge Way, declined to renew the poker club’s lease.

The club was funded by each member paying nightly table fees of $20, which were collected by taking a small percentage of each pot played, also known as the “rake.” Any money collected in excess of $20 per player was placed in a player’s fund to be redistributed among the players through parties and refreshments.

Because the club was not making a profit from these fees, and only paying for rent, expenses and improvements, Russell Bjerke, co-owner of the Downtown Poker Club, had previously said he felt the practice was legal.

The state disagreed.

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