Federal Judge Jack Weinstein declared that Online Poker is not gambling

Jack Weinstein, a federal judge, has declared that poker should not be illegal.   Judge Weinstein wrote a 120 page report wherin he said that poker is not a game of chance like most gambling games.  Instead the Judge said, the outcome of the game depends on the players’ skills.  One reason for this is that players with a poor hand, can win the hand, using skill, good players can also lose the winning hand, by playing badly.

He believes that good professional poker players can earn as much as professional athletes.  He believes that poker can be compared to chess.  It all comes down to skill and experience.  It also takes a certain expertise to win the game.

Judge Weinstein’s report is expected to be used at both the federal and state levels, in cases where gambling online is considered a crime.

Some have already drawn the conclusion that Internet gambling sites are not as legal as the Government want people to believe.

The report was written as a result of an arrest made on Lawrence DiCristina of Staten Island in New York   DiCristina rented a space for regular poker games.  He was arrested for operating a gambling house illegally because he took five percent of the earnings to help pay for rent and other expenses. In most many states it’s perfectly legal to operate a poker room, as long as the owner does not profit at all from the game. In fact, the owner can’t even recoup their investments (tables, cards, timers, etc.) by taking a fee from the game.

Weinstein said, in his report that they should be going after large crime rings and not little poker games like DiCristina’s.
In Washington State, gambling online (poker or anything else) is a class three felony.  You could be sitting at your kitchen table, playing a game of poker online, and committing a felony right there, win or lose.
Some states have passed laws making it legal to play poker.  The internet operator must be licensed and taxed.  This is true in Nevada and Delaware.
South Carolina allows poker now, but the state is debating the topic.  That may change in the near future.
Ohio continues to believe that poker is illegal like other “games of chance,” including craps and roulette.  However, bingo is still legal.
California is a good place for poker players.  They are full of poker clubs which are licensed and regulated.  They bring in a lot of revenue which helps with taxes.  The state relies on this money for help, while keeping customers happy.
The House of Representatives are working to pass The Internet Poker Act for Americans.  It gives states the opportunity to pass it down.  It was started by Representative Joe Barton who wants people to be allowed to play poker with your friends since it takes skill and is not gambling.  He believes that poker should be legal.
States and their lawmakers need to revise their laws so that people can enjoy a friendly game of poker without being worried about being caught.  They usually want to have fun and relax.  Having the police show up will certainly end that feeling.

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