US gambling regulations more uncertain than ever before
Wednesday 28th January 2009
US gambling regulations have been dealt a severe blow after the collapse of the Colorado v Kevin Raley case which was taken to the High Court. The Colorado authorities took the decision to prosecute Kevin Raley after they raided an organised poker game at Rafferty's bar in Greeley, Colorado. It appears that the game had been advertised on the Internet and they were around 30 pub regulars in attendance. A charge of professional gambling was cited against Kevin Raley although the judge in the trial decided upon a not guilty verdict.
The case revolves around whether poker is seen as a game of chance or a game of skill and again we have seen the legal profession suggesting it is in fact a game of skill. Under Colorado law "bona fides contests of skill" are exempt from the gambling laws and as such the case appeared to be fatally flawed.
Over the last few weeks we have seen a number of High Court judges in the US come forward to suggest that poker is in fact a game of skill and not chance, something which has not gone unnoticed by the online poker industry. Whether any of the major online poker companies will be brave enough to take on the US authorities in the short term remains to be seen but the US government’s position appears to be getting weaker by the day.
US gambling regulations have been dealt a severe blow after the collapse of the Colorado v Kevin Raley case which was taken to the High Court. The Colorado authorities took the decision to prosecute Kevin Raley after they raided an organised poker game at Rafferty's bar in Greeley, Colorado. It appears that the game had been advertised on the Internet and they were around 30 pub regulars in attendance. A charge of professional gambling was cited against Kevin Raley although the judge in the trial decided upon a not guilty verdict.