As a growing poker craze sweeps the nation, for students at George Washington High School the occasional game of poker has grown to "something to do during lunch," said George Washington High School sophomore Timothy Mertz and many others.

Unfortunately for Mertz and his friends, lunchtime games of poker are illegal, and students that are caught participating in them can be suspended, or even turned over to the police, according to school rules that prohibit gambling on the GW campus, as well as on school transportation.

In spite of this, the poker craze is continuing to grow nationwide, and studies have shown that in an average week about 2.9 million people ages 14 to 22 are gambling with cards in the United States.

"It's illegal because you're not supposed to gamble in school...but you can make money," said Mertz.

However, making money is exactly what the law is concerned about. Since the police raids at the Hop Sing Tong and Asian International social clubs on East Colfax last month, in which a total of 41 people were arrested on charges of illegal gambling, there has been much debate over when gambling is legal and illegal under Colorado law.

"It's fine as long as you don't bet. It's not gambling unless there's something at stake," said sophomore Kevin Fulton.

The Colorado Department of Gaming published a list of guidelines to help determine whether poker games are illegal:

1. To be gambling, the three factors of "payment, luck, and prize" must be present. If no payment is made to join the game, no risk is involved in the game, or no money is won from the game, it is not gambling, and therefore not illegal.

2. If money is paid to enter the game, prizes must be awarded randomly, not based on who wins or loses to be considered legal.

3. The only exception to these rules is "social gambling." If the players have a social relationship outside of playing poker, they may meet to play poker.

Punishment for illegal gambling ranges from more lenient the first time you are caught, just a fine for petty offense, to sentences in jail for over a year and fines that exceed $1,000 for following arrests.

So why do people continue to gamble for high stakes in spite of the consequences?

"It's an easy way to make money," said freshman Kendal Ford.

Article submitted by: Katie Whitnah, George Washington High School