Poker is a Game of Skill Say States

Submitted by Ace King on

Written by :

Ace King

Published on :

Two states this past month have ruled that poker is a game of skill, not chance.

"It is apparent that skill predominates over chance in Texas Hold'em poker," echoed Pennsylvania Judge Thomas A. James Jr.   That decision essentially dismissed cases against a defendant jailed after hosting a poker game.  The game in question allegedly involved no rake but encouraged tipping of dealers.

"Simply, if chance predominates, Texas Hold'em is gambling. If skill predominates, it is not gambling." The Honorable Judge James Jr. decreed.

A similar decision was handed down in Colorado where a jury found that a poker league was not guilty of illegal gambling.

Expert testimony by University of Denver statistics professor Robert Hannum demonstrated that poker is a game of skill.

Prior to these decisions, there have been little if any precedents set defining poker as a "game of skill". 

Gambling911.com has been at the forefront of the poker revolution, covering the ever changing legal climate surrounding the game.

Get 100 percent rake back and up to US$1000 in cash bonuses when you join PayNoRake.com

Ace King, Gambling911.com 

Related Content

Find Arizona Live Poker Tournaments November 2026

Find Arizona Live Poker Tournaments November 2026

The 2026 Arena Fall Poker Series is a 10-day live poker festival taking place November 6–15, 2026, at the Arena Poker Room inside the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Last year's winner walked off with just over $78K.
Pennsylvania 8 Race Has Scranton Democratic Mayor Paige Cognetti as -325 Favorite

Pennsylvania 8 Race Has Scranton Democratic Mayor Paige Cognetti as -325 Favorite

Cognetti's odds improve slightly from -275 to -325 over this past month with Republican candidate Rob Bresnahan promising a payout of $250 for every $100 bet.
What Happens to My Bet If the Steelers-Saints Game in Paris Gets Suspended, Postponed?

What Happens to My Bet If the Steelers-Saints Game in Paris Gets Suspended, Postponed?

As the Steelers and Saints are prepared to meet in Paris for a Sunday NFL game, the question must be asked: What happens if I placed a bet on this game and it is postponed or suspended? Different books have different rules.