Poker Ruled to be Gambling, Not A Game of Skill, by PA Judge

The game of Poker is widely regarded as a game of skill and not luck, but that is not the case with a judge from Pennsylvania who ruled that the popular card game is a game of chance.

The Poker World took news from a Pittsburgh courtroom tough this week, when judge Richard McCormick Jr. ruled that Poker was a game of chance and not skill.

Larry Burns, a Westmoreland Attorney who had a hearing held this week to try and recover money that was taken from him in a police raid this summer.

Burns contends that the tournaments he admitted to hosting were legal since Poker is not recognized as gambling under state law. he claims that the game is one of skill.

John Peck, the District Attorney fought that Poker was a game of chance, stating, "Whether you win or lose, it's based essentially in the cards you are dealt and that's by chance."

The judge agreed with Peck, and Burns' money and gambling paraphernalia that was seized will now be held until he goes to trial next month.

The ruling is a blow to the Poker community who are fighting hard legally to have their game classified as one of skill and not luck. If they can succeed in doing that, it will be difficult for law enforcement to shut down games they now feel are illegal.

The ruling in this hearing, however, is not a positive one for Poker advocates.



2007-10-16