Poker and the law
Discussion of whether it’s, legally, a game of chance or a game of skill. I can’t figure out why the two are viewed as mutually exclusive.
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
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February 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
There are undoubtedly elements of skill and luck. Why that’s hard for non players to understand escapes me as well.
Reading tells is skill. Getting the card you need on the river is luck. What’s hard about that?
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Game of skill with an element of chance of course.
Anyone who says poker has no element of skill is either ignorant, stupid, or lying.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Having seen a college professor who was also a hobbyist magician, standing two feet in front of me, demonstrate multiple methods of dealing a predetermined card, and also palming and “disappearing” several cards in order or at once, without me being able to see what he was doing, even after he told me what to look for, convinced me never to play cards for money with people I did not know. Yes, there is skill involved in poker (and other card games). If there is more skill being used across the table than you know about, all luck can be completely eliminated from the game, without your knowing that the lady has left the room.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Trust everyone but always cut the cards 😉
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Poker is not the only game that mixes skill with luck. Backgammon is in the same category. Chess now, is all skill, or to put it more accurately and depressingly, you don’t win a chess match, your opponent loses it.
I agree, it is foolhardy to play cards for money with people you don’t know, and I don’t know a single dealer in Las Vegas or any of the indian casinos, so I don’t play there.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
The distinction should be: a game governed strictly by chance and the odds, or a game where skill is a significant factor in addition to other factors.
If there is any significant amount of skill involved, it is not strictly a game of chance.
Roulette is a game of chance for example, as the croupier isn’t believed to be able to influence the outcome, and the players chance of winning is preset at 36 to 37.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Michael is right. Baseball and football and soccer and ice hockey and autoracing are all games of skill with elements of luck as well. Why this becomes controversial and regulatable simply because the medium is the order of cards in a deck instead of the bounce of a ball or puck escapes me.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
They’re only mutually exclusive in the sense that the government hasn’t gotten nearly involved enough. Once they do you will see loopholes for certain games, played with a deck from ____ company, while used decks bought in Vegas will carry a registration tax and only be legal if bought before a certain date.
The fact that you’re dealing with the government, the same folks who say “guns for me but not for thee” and believe that Joe the Plumber’s tax problems are a huge issue, but expect us to believe that getting caught and finally paying your taxes and apologizing for being caught is perfectly fine should tip you off to the reason they can be seen in such a light.