Lawlords say poker is a game of chance

Lawlords say poker is a game of chance

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

The continued debate over whether poker is a game of skill or chance took a negative turn in the UK this week when a British appeals court declared for the 'chance' school of thought.

The continued debate over whether poker is a game of skill or chance took a negative turn in the UK this week when a British appeals court declared for the 'chance' school of thought.
The Gutshot Poker Club in the UK has been waging a continued legal battle to have the game classified as one of skill, which would in turn remove the need for a gambling licence.
The Gutshot, which operates a popular online poker room and community at Gutshot.com, opened a brick and mortar card room in 2004 to accompany its online operations. The local authorities soon clamped down on the club though, and charged the Gutshot with operating a card room without sufficient licenses.
The owners fought the prosecution by arguing that poker is a game of skill, and so should not be subjected to the same legislation as other casinos as set out in the 1968 Gaming Act. During the course of the trial, American business law professor Joe Kelly testified that 'poker is overwhelmingly a game of skill.'
After the UK courts ruled against the Gutshot, it took it to an appeal where it was ruled that poker 'contains a significant element of chance, and therefore is a prohibited.'



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