Poker is a game of chance?
14 February, 2008
In a recent case the British appeals court established, under UK law, that poker is not a game of skill, but a game of chance. By doing this the courts are requiring that all small pubs and private clubs that would like to host a poker game or poker tournament become licensed. The case that brought this argument was Derek Kelly who ran the Gutshot Private Club located in Clarkenwell, London. He hosted poker games in the private club in which they took fees and rake for the games. His original defense that was turned over is that poker is a game of skill, similar to chess. The jury did not agree with his argument, and neither did the Courts of Appeals.