South Carolina Judge rules poker a game of skill

South Carolina Judge rules poker a game of skill

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

We love it when the judge sides with the good guys - i mean isn't that how the judicial system is supposed to work? In America, a judge in South Carolina has ruled that Texas hold’em is a game of skill and not chance after reversing the convictions of five people convicted of playing the pastime and violating state law.

According to a report from The Associated Press, Circuit Judge R Markley Dennis issued his formal opinion last week after announcing in September that he was going to reverse the gambling convictions of Texas hold'em players.


Dennis stated that the game is not based on luck and a skilled player will consistently beat a less skilled opponent. Bravo!


The five were arrested three years ago in the town of Mount Pleasant and convicted by a local judge of running a gambling house even though he ruled that Texas hold'em was a game of skill. The defendants soon appealed and Dennis has now reversed the convictions and stated that sections of state’s gambling laws were too broad.


Lawmakers in the southern conservative state are believed to be considering legalising friendly poker games and raffles for use by charities.


That's one small step for [a] judge, one (getting there) giant leap for pokerkind.



Tags: Poker News, South, Carolina, Judge, rules, poker, a, game, of, skill