Is Poker Gambling in Colorado?
Written August 13, 2009 by Jack Jones
All across the country it seems that courts are being asked to determine whether poker is a game of skill with Colorado’s Supreme Court possibly being the next one on the list. The Poker Players Alliance will have one of its members petition the high court after a district court in the state ruled that poker is considered gambling in Colorado.
The case stems from a $20 buy-in Texas Hold’em tournament in which five people were arrested and charged with illegal gambling. In January, a county court acquitted Kevin Raley, and then the charges against the four other individuals were dropped. Raley argued the standard line for poker defense, that the game is one of skill and thus isn’t a game of chance.
While Raley can’t be retried due to double jeopardy laws, the state still appealed to the district court in order to get a ruling from a higher court. On the appeal the judge said that poker is already considered gambling under state law and that cash poker games and tournaments can only be held at casinos or at a place where everyone has a “bona fide” social relationship.
I feel like these gambling laws are just another way for states to have an industrial monopoly on gambling and thus earn a high share of taxes on the profits these businesses make. When is the general population going to wise up?
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- Poker is a Game of Skill
- Poker Tools: Position, Chips & Cards
- 2009 World Series of Poker Pre-Registration Open
- College Football Gambling
- Aggressive Play in Limit Poker
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