Pennsylvania Jury find Poker a Game of Chance

Lucy Speed
Sunday 16th August 2009

gavil A jury in Pennsylvania, USA, has found a local man guilty of illegal gambling following the verdict that poker is a game of chance and not skill.

Lawrence Burns, 65, was found guilty late last week or twelve counts of illegal gambling. Each count is a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania. The charges related to poker games that Burns arranged dating back to 2007. Burns admitted to arranging the poker tournaments but argued that is wasn’t illegal gambling as, in his view, Texas Hold’em is a game of skill and not chance.

The jury disagreed and found Burns guilty on all counts despite the protests of lawyers for the defendant. They said that the chances of winning in Texas Hold’em can be improved by the application of learned techniques.

Dr. Robert Hannum, from the University of Denver, also testified in Burns’ defence. Hannum referenced a computer simulation that showed skilled poker players won 960 million times out of one billion over non-skilled poker players.

Burns will not serve any time in jail over the offences but will be appealing the verdict.