With jackpots nearing $1M, Queen of Hearts should get state review

What started out as just another game of chance in a neighborhood tavern and eatery has grown into a regional phenomenon that’s attracting bettors by the thousands.

But the fact that the Queen of Hearts jackpot will grow to more than $700,000 by Wednesday night’s drawing has given rise to concerns about oversight.

Here’s the underlying question: Is there adequate monitoring by state government of a gambling event that rivals some of the games of chance offered by the Ohio Lottery’s games?

To be sure, Barry Dyngles on Raccoon Road in Austintown isn’t violating any state statutes in sponsoring the Queen of Hearts game, and there have been no complaints from people who have been buying the $1 tickets to participate in the weekly drawing.

GAME IS LEGAL

As The Vindicator story last Saturday by Reporter Robert Connelly noted, the Queen of Hearts game is legal and has an oversight structure just as other legal gaming options in Ohio. But Connelly was also on the mark when he pointed out that the accumulation of money in the pot is somewhat unprecedented.

It is this absence of precedence that has us agreeing with Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains that the Ohio General Assembly should conduct a review of the game – in the context of an establishment that has a liquor permit.

“Maybe liquor permit-holders should not be permitted to engage in this type of activity, even though it appears to be a great marketing technique,” Gains told The Vindicator.

It is important to point out that Barry Dyngles and the other establishments that host the Queen of Hearts game do not get a cut of the money taken in by the sales of tickets. That would be illegal.

Instead, all of the money is paid out in prizes. So, how does the establishment benefit? By a huge uptick in business – as the Raccoon Road tavern and eatery will attest.

Business has been booming, not only for Barry Dyngles, but for neighboring businesses as well.

But because “the game” has become such a major event, not only for the Mahoning Valley, but the region, the public needs to be assured that everything is being done according to the book.

State Sen. Bill Coley, a Republican from Butler County, pointed out that the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control and the Ohio Inspector General’s Office have oversight of the Queen of Hearts game.

INSPECTOR-GENERAL REVIEW

“I think that all the businesses can just assume the fact that the inspector general will be coming through to look at their books,” Coley told The Vindicator. “The Inspector General’s Office, my guess, will definitely be investigating all of these and make sure they are” operating legally.

The state lawmaker did express some concern about the rollover aspect of the game, given that half the jackpot is not paid out and is put into a subsequent pool of money if the ultimate winner is not present at the drawing.

“We’re doing some checks into the law [to see] if that still qualified as a pool,” he said.

Just nine cards remain – from the original 54 – for this week’s drawing. If a ticketholder wins the one weekly chance at the board – it contains the cards that are sealed in plastic – and draws the Queen of Hearts, he or she will win the pot.

However, if the ticketholder pulls another card, the game continues and more tickets will have to be purchased for the next drawing.

As we said at the outset, this is a game of chance that is much different from many other games that taverns and eateries offer their patrons. The prizes may amount to several thousand dollars at best.

What has occurred at Barry Dyngles is unprecedented. The size of the jackpot does require a review by state officials, not only to reinforce the reputation of the owners, but to reassure the bettors.