Poker Player, Former Stock Broker Does Not Have to Pay Child Support

A United Kingdom appeal judge, Lord Justice Longmore, has ruled that a professional poker player and former stock broker will not have to pay child support since his income is not from ‘gainful employment’.

Three judges agreed that Tony Hakki’s poker playing was not organised enough to amount to a trade, business or profession.

"(Mr Hakki) is a professional poker player in the sense that he supports himself from his winnings at poker,” said one appeal judge, Lord Justice Longmore, in the ruling.

“He declines to support his children and the mother has made an application to the Child Support Agency for an order that he pay child support maintenance.

"He opposes the application on the ground that his poker winnings do not constitute 'earnings' from gainful employment.

He added: "On the facts found I do not consider that it can be said that Mr Hakki had a sufficient organisation in his poker playing to make it amount to a trade (or a business) let alone a profession or a vocation."

Hakki had made the final table of a late night poker television show.  He is also said to play at casinos four time a week on average with stakes ranging from £40 to thousands.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com