TEXAS CITY -- Just nine of 78 people ticketed in a gambling raid at a Texas City bar last year have decided to take their chances in court.

Ten of 22 people still under charges took a city prosecutor's offer of a $127 fine and 30 days of deferred adjudication to end their ordeal. Two others failed to show for yesterday's pretrial hearing, and another was granted a rescheduled hearing.

Douglas Pennington was one of those who took City Prosecutor Robert Barfield's offer. The missed work and court costs resulting from a trial would have cost him more than the fine, he said.

All participated in a Texas Hold 'em tournament at Shenanigan's bar in Texas City.

Bar owner, Frank Skaggs, said he talked with police and state Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials about the tournament. He acknowledged he wasn't told his tournament was legal, but he says he wasn't told it was illegal, either.