Are Poker Contests going to be popular in the US ? Recent Court ruling

[Skallagrim]

The decision was by the US District Court for New Jersey. It is precedent for the whole of NJ. NJ folks should look at NJ gambling law and see if there is anything specific about poker. My RECOLLECTION (not researched opinion) is that it does not. IF NJ gambling law does not ban playing poker specifically (just unlicensed "gambling" in general), A NJ person running a "poker contest" could use this opinion as a defense to any prosecution ("this judge said it was OK" is a real defense). GO FOR IT NJ!

RIIT, I know its hard to fathom the logic here, because this has no "real world" logic, only legal logic. This judge defined "contests" and said "contests" are not gambling. So to not be gambling, per this judge, you must meet his definition of a contest: set fee guarantees right to play; non-variable prize to winner(s) announced in advance; no participation in contest by organizers.

Why a contest along these lines SHOULD be legal and why a contest organized differently SHOULD NOT, is a good question, but not a legal one.

Skallagrim