Last week, the Indiana Gaming Commission contacted a senior center in Muncie to let them know that a popular activity, thrice-weekly games of euchre (a four-player card game) was possibly breaking the state’s gambling law. The seniors shut down their game, not wanting to run afoul of gambling regulations. When the story hit local news, the state government clarified that this type of card game was not really what they had in mind for a crackdown on informal gambling venues.

After initial reports that the strong arm of the state was coming in and ruining seniors’ fun, the governor got involved. Yes, the 50-person euchre club in Muncie is simply that important. The governor clarified that recreational games at the senior center, where players put in $2.50 and might win a can of peaches or a pack of toilet paper, are not illegal and the players can continue paying money toward their fabulous prizes.

“They’re getting toilet paper and peaches and the state somehow sees this as a huge issue,” the director of one senior center told the Star-Press. “It’s not a good law.” Private clubs and fraternal organizations are allowed to gamble for money among their members, but senior centers aren’t organized that way.

Be careful, Indiana Gaming Commission…you could just be forcing these games further underground, where the play will become tougher and the stakes even higher, until players are charged $5 to play, and the prizes could escalate to unprecedented levels, such as cans of fruit cocktail or paper towels. It doesn’t sound like they have any raids on senior centers planned, though. Play euchre without fear, seniors!

Pence: No ‘shutdown’ of senior euchre games [Star-Press]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.