IT HAS got to stop. That's the message given to landlords today as council chiefs cracked down on an "illegal" pub poker craze in York.

City licensing chief John Lacy has moved to warn licensees that they are breaking the law - and could lose their pubs - if they turn their bars into card clubs.

Mr Lacy said City of York Council did not want to be "killjoys" - but he said the authority had no choice but to apply the law.

He said he was aware of a number of pubs in the York area that were running regular poker evenings at their premises in response to the worldwide boom in the game.

One of those is The Acomb, in Kingsway North, where landlord Paul Harris has been holding a regular game formore than sixmonths.

Mr Harris contacted the council for advice, prior to beginning regular poker evenings, which are used primarily as a fundraiser for the pub's 30 sports and social teams.

The Press visited the pub's thriving Tuesday night game and took part in the event Mr Lacy, the council's licensing manager, said: "Nationally, poker has taken off - both online, on the television and, apparently, it is becoming prevalent in public houses in York.We have been in dialogue with a number of premises in the city regarding this issue and there is some confusion given the current proposals to reform gambling laws.

"One of those licensees is Paul Harris who has been in touch and wishes to ensure that he is doing everything right."

But he added: "This authority will not authorise, and I believe all local authorities across the country, will not authorise gaming on licensed premises.

"We don't want to be killjoys but premisesmust stay within the law."

Mr Harris told The Press that his game was regulated and did not allow unruly behaviour, or excessive drinking. But he conceded that the game would have to stop if it was against the law.We have never had any bother, " he said. "Most people realise it's only a game. It needs to be properly regulated. If you just say 'you can't do it', it will be driven underground.

"You don't want seedy card rooms in the backs of pubs. At our game, anyone drinking excessively isn't allowed to play.We are here to play cards. This is simply an extension of a residential game.

"No one is losing a lot ofmoney. It is not high-stakes. It helps to fundraise for all the teams we have at the pub.We self-regulate and we do it right.

"I intend to bring up the matter with the Gambling Commission nationally."

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

A CITY of York Council spokeswoman said: "Under current legislation it is virtually impossible to legally organise a poker game or similar competition, other than in a licensed casino.

"This is because breaches frequently occur, with regard to location; access by members of the public; advertising; charging an entrance fee or making a levy on stakes or winnings; and encouraging people to the premises primarily to take part in gambling.

"It is for this reason that the Licensing Authority will not authorise such gaming in licensed premises.

Licensed premises that allow these kind of activities to take place could find that enforcement action is taken against them.

"Anyone wishing to set up a card club or organise a competition is strongly advised to seek legal advice and contact the Gambling Commission first."

STEVE CARROLL tries his hand at a poker tournament at The Acomb

YOU can play it at home, you can play it on the internet and you can watch it all night long on the television.

But if you play poker in a pub, you risk your collar being felt by the long arm of the council's licensing department.

Sound silly? That's because it is.

And, unfortunately for those who play the game, the law in this country is yet to catch up with the social shift.

Poker, despite newfound widespread popularity, seems to suffer from an image problem. Mention the game, and people think you're off to seedy, smoke-filled card rooms with a lot of crooks and cheaters waiting to rob you of your hard-earned - by fairmeans, or foul.

The game at The Acomb, though admittedly smoke-filled, was anything but seedy.When I popped in for a few hands on Tuesday night, I joined nearly 30 other players, on three tables, who each stumped up £20 to play - receiving 50,000 worth of clay chips.

Each table had a dealer, to rule out any hint of collusion, with the superbly-named Bones the chief of affairs where I was sitting. Hemust have likedme, because the first hand at our game - no limit Texas Hold 'em - saw a pair of aces (the best possible starting hand) wind their way intomy fingers. Themood was convivial. The players laughed, joked and winced in equalmeasure as events unfolded. There was banter, but that was all.

The Acomb's game is basically an extension of the play that takes place in homes across York and North Yorkshire all the time. It had that feel from the start.

Those who think poker is purely a game of luck are sadly deluded.

At this game, the figures at the top of the leader board are always familiar faces.

As forme, I betted, bluffed and raisedmy way on to the final table, finishing a creditable fourth and picking up £80. Hardly life changing, but not unwelcome either.

While the pub game now looks likely to be at a halt, the reform of the country's gambling laws does offer some small hope for a reprieve.

And if that's the case, it might not be long before the welcome sound of riffling chips is heard oncemore at The Acomb.