Indiana Clamps Down On Senior Citizens Center Awarding Lucky Dip Prizes

Two or three times a week a group of around 50 elderly people gather at the Delaware County Senior Citizens Center to play their favorite game, Euchre, a social game similar to Bridge in that four people compete once organized into two partnerships. With micro-stakes of around $2, winning players can expect to win a lucky dip type inexpensive prizes for their home, such as a tin of peaches, a pack of cookies, soap, or toilet paper.
However, the merry band of elderly citizens has now landed themselves in hot water with the local Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), who has accused them of breaking Indiana law and so ordered them to stop their illegal gambling activities. Apparently, the IGC was tipped off to the situation by “a member of two euchre card clubs” and after receiving an email about charity gaming compliance, Director of the Delaware County Senior Citizens Center Judy Elton, commented:
“Someone called [the state] and was concerned. If you pay to play and win prizes, that’s considered gambling. We thought that only applied to cash prizes.”
Following complaints about the absurd situation, the story was soon picked up by Indiana newspaper, Muncie’s Star Press, and after receiving overwhelming public support on the issue even Indiana Governor Mike Pence got involved. Apparently concerned that the IGC may have been planning on taking further action against the organization, he urged that the regulator exercises “common sense” on such matters, with a governor’s office spokesman subsequently stating:
“When Governor Pence became aware of the situation in Muncie this morning, he directed the Indiana Gaming Commission to make sure it does not have any plans to shut down euchre card games at the Delaware County Senior Citizens Center or to take enforcement action against them. He has asked the Commission to review its procedures to ensure common sense prevails when reviewing complaints and concerns.”
Apparently the elderly players have since returned to their game of Euchre at the Senior Citizens Center, albeit with the state having now taken their excitement levels down more than a few notches. In the meantime, many of the senior card players seem perplexed by the whole affair, and as Berylda Wilson, 88, explains:
“We play five games and we have snacks, then play five more games. Whoever has the high score gets to come up and pick a prize. We use the money to buy the prizes with and we buy sympathy cards or go out to dinner if there’s money left. We all get our money back.”