Virginia Charity Poker Tourney Shut Down

The Fraternal Order of Police, of all groups, has had its charity poker tournaments in Portsmouth, Virginia, shut down by the city.  The tournaments had raised almost $90,000 for, among other causes, private education, since the summer of 2006. 

"We're keeping our promise that we have with the city that if they asked us to stop, we would," said event organizer and a second vice president for the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police, Skip Blanchard. 

Of question in this case is whether or not poker is a game of skill, similar to the debate in the Gutshot case in the UK.  Virginia law says, “the making of any bet . . . of money or other thing of value made in exchange for a chance to win a prize, stake or thing of value . . . the outcome of which is uncertain, or a matter of chance.” 

City officials obviously decided that poker is a game of chance and the above law applied.  But Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Earle Mobley found another piece of law that discusses games of skill: “…nothing shall . . . prevent any contest of speed or skill between men…where participants may receive prizes or different percentages of a purse, stake or premium.” 

Lawmakers in the state agree that the law needs to be clearer.  Even those on opposing sides of the debate understand the validity of the other side, so having conflicting wording on the books only creates confusion.

Originally published 10:57 PM Tuesday, April 17, 2007