Judge Rules “Poker Is A Game of Skill”

At last we have something to work with.  Last Friday, a Pennsylvania judge ruled that Texas Holdem poker is a game of skill and is not gambling.  This case has set an excellent bar for future litigation and the defense of poker players.

Walter Watkins, the defendant, ran a $1-$2 No Limit Holdem poker game from his garage.  He and a dealer, Diane Dent, were arrested, shackled and had to spend a night in prison for playing poker!

Apparently, an undercover Pennsylvania State Trooper had to play poker in Watkin’s garage to ensure their was sufficient evidence – An Undercover Poker Player – Will this be part of the plot in the next big gambling movie?….  Beware of your opponents… are you sure you know who they are?…

Judge James must have known a thing or two about poker.  The ultimate question was, “Is poker predominantly a game of skill or is it a game of chance?”.  And if it was a game of chance then it would be gambling, if it was a game of skill then it is not gambling.  Simple!

Video poker games are mostly a game of chance and therefore these games are banned in Pennsylvania.  Texas Holdem, however, has numerous literature written about it to prove that strategy is require to win.  Many mathematical studies have also been undertaken to prove the strategies and probabilities of winning, which further prove that skill predominates over chance, in Texas Holdem poker.

The accused have been let off their charges of “Unlawful Gambling” and now there is further hope that poker players can challenge state law.  For online players this may be the first step against “Unlawful Internet Gambling” and a way to take on the UIGEA.