Colorado District Judge Overturns Poker Gambling Ruling

It seems that every judge in the country has a different take on the game of poker. That is why it may become difficult for people in the US to ever really know whether playing poker for money is legal or illegal.

Weld County District Court Chief Judge James Hartmann has turned what was a potential victory for poker players, into a loss this past week. Hartmann overturned a lower court ruling that allowed a defendant to present evidence that poker was a game of skill.

Hartmann, in his ruling, did acknowledge that there may be some skillful elements to poker, but that there is too much randomness in the cards that could overpower skill. It is the latest of many differing opinions handed down by judges across the US.

"Until the US government steps in and makes a ruling as to the legality of the game of poker, these state laws are going to continue to be interpreted in different ways," said observer Frank Litscum, "it needs to be determined once and for all whether or not poker is a game of skill."

The defendant in the Colorado case was Kevin Raley. He was one of five defendants who were playing poker amongst friends in a local bar when they were arrested and charged with illegal gambling. He accurately gave evidence at his trial that poker was a game of skill.

Raley's case will not be affected by the ruling this week. There will be no re-trial, after he was acquitted on the charges by a Weld County Court jury. The ruling this week came after the Distric attorney's Office wanted a clarification on the original ruling.

In the future, defendants will not be able to present the "skill" evidence when charged with a poker gambling crime. although the ruling has been clarified, many players in the state of Colorado still do not know whether or not they are doing anything illegal when they play the game of poker.

August 8, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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