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239:"money flows from the bad players to the good players." He also cited "a number of mathematical studies that link 'poker and economics.'" One study in particular showed that "Beginning poker players rely on big hands and lucky draws. Expert poker players use their skill to minimize their losses on their bad hands and maximize their profits on their big hands."
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the response is utterly meaningless: roulette is purely a game of chance... The collective expert opinion is unequivocal: poker is a game of skill, and in the long run, a skilled player will beat an unskilled player... Poker is the one and only game where a skilled player may hold bad cards for hours and still win the money."
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The state appealed the verdict and on April 10, 2010, the state's appellate court ruled 2-1 that the game is a game dominated by luck. The appellate court relied primarily upon older rulings from states with a less defined
Dominant Factor Test. In his dissenting opinion, Judge Robert Colville did
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The study compared the results of black jack, roulette, poker, and other forms of gambling. "If you ask who are the top five poker players in the world, you will receive a meaningful response because skill is a determining factor. But if you ask who are the top five roulette players in the world,
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is illegal gambling under the state's criminal code. In his opinion, Judge Thomas A. James Jr. determined that the question was if Texas hold 'em is a "game of skill or a game of chance... if chance predominates Texas hold 'em is gambling. If skill predominates, it is not gambling." This
171:. Pennsylvania law alleged that the defendants "unlawfully allowed persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling" and "unlawfully solicit or invite any person to visit any unlawful gambling place for the purpose of gambling." Walter Watkins was hosting
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prohibition against online poker. The United States has, however, in previous litigation shown a preference to pay fines when countries sue it for trade restrictions than reverse the UIGEA.
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The state opted not to attempt a retrial...offering community service to both Walter
Watkins and Diane Dent and a full expunging of the record. Both did 20 hours of community service.
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interpretation comes from a 1983 state
Supreme Court ruling, which said “for a game to constitute gambling, it must be a game where chanced predominates rather than skill.”
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Both the state and the defense attorneys agreed to the principal facts in the case, but agreed that the "controlling issue" was whether or not
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Participants must have a distinct possibility of exercising skill and must have sufficient data upon which to calculate an informed judgment.
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per the state statutes. Later, On April 2, 2010, a
Pennsylvania Superior Court overturned the ruling declaring poker to be a game of luck.
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183:, but players were expected to tip the dealer. The operation was infiltrated by an undercover police officer, who testified at the trial.
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198:" that most jurisdictions use in cases dealing with what is and is not gambling. The Dominant Factor Test relies upon four criteria:
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not declare poker to be a game of skill, but instead said that the
Commonwealth failed to prove that poker was a game of chance.
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254:. Since the ruling, speculation has emerged on the web that online poker sites might take the US to court to overturn the
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Participants must have the opportunity to exercise the skill, and the general class of participants must possess the skill.
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In
December 2008, Walter Watkins and Diane Dent were charged with 20 counts of violating state statutes against
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Poker Player
Alliance Executive Director John Pappas hails the decision as a key victory in legalizing
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The standard of skill must be known to the participants, and this standard must govern the results.
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331:"More Luck Than Skill in Poker, Pennsylvania Court Claims: 2-1 Ruling Reverses Earlier Decision"
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In reaching his conclusion, the judge said that there are over 600 books on the subject of
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In Poker: Public Policy, Law, Mathematics, and the Future of
American Tradition.
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Skill or the competitors efforts must sufficiently govern the results
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court case wherein a
Columbia County Court ruled that poker was a
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Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania v. Diane Alice Dent, Walter Watkins
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468:"Pennsylvania Judge Rules Poker is a Game of Skill, Not Luck"
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and that all agree that poker is a game of skill. He quoted
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games in his garage, and Diane Dent was serving the role of
548:, 2010 PA Super 47, 992 A.2d 190 (2010) is available from:
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517:"Pennsylvania Judge delivers vital poker ruling"
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499:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
424:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
401:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
381:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
361:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
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18:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs Walter Watkins
443:"Pennsylvania Judge rules Poker a skill game"
194:In evaluating the case, James discussed the "
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256:Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
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91:Columbia County Court of Common Pleas
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441:Crowson, Authur (January 18, 2009).
329:Murphy, Stephen A. (April 2, 2010).
519:. January 17, 2009. Archived from
470:. January 19, 2009. Archived from
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604:United States gambling case law
594:2010 in United States case law
50:Superior Court of Pennsylvania
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599:Pennsylvania state case law
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314:, 992 A.2d 190 (2010).
242:James cited a 2005 study
179:. The house did not take
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501:. Columbia County Court.
426:. Columbia County Court.
403:. Columbia County Court.
383:. Columbia County Court.
363:. Columbia County Court.
312:2010 PA Super 47
294:. Columbia County Court.
237:Secrets of Winning Poker
589:2010 in Pennsylvania
546:Commonwealth v. Dent
307:Commonwealth v. Dent
196:Dominant Factor Test
144:Commonwealth v. Dent
32:Commonwealth v. Dent
474:on January 20, 2009
155:not luck, thus not
110:Robert A. Freedberg
523:on October 6, 2011
493:James Jr, Thomas.
418:James Jr, Thomas.
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114:Robert E. Colville
262:Ruling overturned
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527:January 21,
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125:Decision by
583:Categories
274:References
495:"Opinion"
420:"Opinion"
397:"Opinion"
377:"Opinion"
357:"Opinion"
288:"Opinion"
233:Mike Caro
128:Freedberg
66:Citations
544:Text of
235:'s book
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340:May 11,
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136:Colvill
133:Dissent
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163:Trial
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