Virgin Poker: Our Skill Versus Your Luck

In the wake of the recent ruling in a UK court that poker is a game of luck, resulting in the conviction of Gutshot Poker Club chair, Derek Kelly, for hosting illegal games of chance, Virgin Poker has announced a unique challenge: anyone who feels that poker is more a game of luck than skill is welcome to prove it through play.

Virgin is willing to pit one of its poker pros against someone in the “it’s all luck” camp to a best-of-five heads-up match. Whoever wins three games will have $1,000 donated in their name to a charity of their choice.

“Whilst we do not dispute the details of the recent court case, the idea that poker is primarily a game of chance is preposterous,” said Virgin Poker’s CEO, Simon Burridge. “Poker is primarily a game of skill, with an element of chance – this is what makes poker so exciting to play; a total novice can beat a world champion in a single hand. However, in the long term it is skill that is the decisive factor in playing poker… and we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is and prove this.”

Those interested in taking on Virgin Poker can send an e-mail to poker@virgingames.com, giving their reasons why poker is a game of luck and not skill. Virgin Poker will choose one challenger to square off with one of its pros. Entries are due by February 28.

Virgin Poker’s pros are David Pomroy and Julian Gardner.

Originally published 3:52 PM Friday, January 26, 2007