is it legal to wager money on games of skill online?

geormiet · #1 09-30-2006, 06:19 PM

Would it be illegal for a us company to operate a website that took wagers on a game such as chess, or starcraft?

If not, what about a tournament with an entry fee and a prize pool featuring chess or starcraft?

PropPlayer · #2 09-30-2006, 06:31 PM

To my knowledge it is legal. The backgammon sites have pushed that their business is legal because it is a game of skill. I’m no expert but my understanding is yes its legal.

CasinoPimp · #3 09-30-2006, 06:48 PM

Yes it's legal except for a couple of states. In fact some of the sites have a skill version of blackjack that's fun to play. Most of the skill game sites list in their t&c's the states that they can't allow players from.

furyshade · #4 09-30-2006, 07:27 PM

the bill states that games like poker are illegal partially because they have tournament with prize pools based on the sum of their entry fees, games like starcraft or chess usually have preset payouts, therein are legal

Ron Burgundy · #5 09-30-2006, 07:27 PM

"Skill" games for money are legal in most states. The problem is that the definition of "skill" is completely bogus. Solitaire is considered a game of skill, while poker is not.

Just go on msn.com and look at the games there. Some are for real money, and have nowhere near the skill element of poker.

bachikarn · #6 09-30-2006, 07:45 PM

So party gammon is legal? Aren't party poker and party gammon accounts linked? So couldn't want deposit money to play gammon then use some of it to play poker?

geormiet · #7 09-30-2006, 07:51 PM

Ok then...how hard would it be to convince the government that poker is a game of skill?

It was done in Cali already, no?

erastank · #8 09-30-2006, 08:15 PM

Not hard at all. I just made a post about this. In 1985 Billy Baxter argued and won in 2 courts that poker is a game of skill and that his tourney win should be taxed as earned income. I think that PS could make an argument since they only offer poker.

TimTimSalabim · #9 09-30-2006, 08:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Ok then...how hard would it be to convince the government that poker is a game of skill?

It was done in Cali already, no?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's true, in fact, there was a time in Cali when only draw poker was legal and stud variants (including holdem) were illegal because they were considered to be games of chance, until the card rooms were able to convince the government otherwise.

Little_Luck · #10 09-30-2006, 09:01 PM

Wait, if its just about the prize pool, that's pretty simple. Put up a set payout $100,000 tourney with a $110 fee and cap the entries at 1000?