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PLCB - You Are Stretching Your Logic Thin, Poker is a Game of Skill

The state says:

BLCE: Poker/Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments: "Poker/Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments

"Texas Hold 'Em" (also known as "Hold 'Em") is a seven-card poker game where players wager money against each other on the strength of their hands by placing bets into a common pot, which is won by the player with the strongest hand at the conclusion of play."

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First Off, the article is specifically titled "Poker/Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments", so I will address their definition of a tournament:

In a (Texas Hold 'Em) Poker Tournament, players wager money on themselves and their skill and ability to play and win continuous hands of (Texas Hold 'Em) poker, until primarily the most skilled players, and ultimately only one player, remains.

A very good overview of the subject is available here:
https://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/commentary/CABOTA2PDF.pdf

The ability to win one hand of poker at a random machine, for example Video Draw Poker, is not good, even for a professional poker player. However, in Texas Hold 'Em, you are not ALWAYS in the forced betting position (blinds), and often get free cards to fold.

Even professional poker players can play, over time, Video Draw Poker to 99.54% payout.

Like Backgammon, which is a game with dice recognized LEGALLY as a game of skill, Poker is a game of skill that should be recognized as such - and left otherwise alone - NOT burdened with regulation and legislation.

In my opinion, Poker, and Gin, and other such games are games of skill, not a game of chance.

Now who wants to play Chess?

The legalities of hosting poker events in Pennsylvania has led many hosts to request Advisory Opinions from the Liquor Control Board. The LCB has responded repeatedly that self-hosting Hold-Em tournaments with no buy in is legal with prizes of up to $500.

Advisory Opnion 2006-63
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/legal/PublicAdvOpnDisplay.asp?opinion_year=2006&opinion_sequence=63

Third Parties (leagues) can not conduct or sponsor events. "However, retail liquor licensees, may permit events on the licensed premises which are sponsored by groups constituting a league..."

The continuing confusion about contradictory opinions like these create a steady level of requests for clarification:
2006 Advisory Opinions on Texas Hold Em for Liquor Licenses from the PA Liquor Control Board

Two decisions have been cited repeatedly by the PLCB in their Adivisory Opinions:

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Bd. v. PPC Circus Bar, Inc., 96 Pa. Cmwlth. 115, 506 A.2d 521 (1986)

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Bd. v. Kehler, 114 Pa. Cmwlth. 310, 538 A.2d 979 (1988)

From these, the PLCB state:
"The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has held that poker playing for money on a licensed premises is gambling, within the definition cited above."

So does that mean if you play for anything BUT money, you're not gambling? Or am I just being a smart-alec?

I've requested the text of these decisions from the PLCB and will post them.

Comments

poker tips said…
Licensed premises is required when money is involved.
9/09/2011 2:41 AM
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