Poker bill filed in Virginia

The state will try for the third consecutive year to admit poker as a game of skill.

US.- Senator Louise Lucas submitted the amended gambling bill that would define poker as a game of skill in Virginia. Although there is nothing controversial about the bill, this is the third consecutive time that Lucas has to try to change the current gambling legislation.

The bill revolves around the legal definition of poker, which states that “Poker games shall be deemed games of skill, and nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to make any such game illegal gambling.” If the bill passes the Senate, legal poker tournaments would be featured at licensed bingo parlors, and it would limit them to US$100 a hand. Even though it’s not much, it’s still better for gamblers than the current legislation.

Last year there effort got taken down after they voted 7-5 against the bill, whilst in 2015 it was killed 10-4. Virginia currently offers a state lottery, pari-mutuel betting and last year daily fantasy sports were legalised, a major achievement for a state that’s against gambling. Virginia created a framework that defines the legal characteristics of daily fantasy sports as some regulators consider that the chance of winning them depends on luck and not on skills. That is why the state determined that the results must be studied from a group of players and not just one of them and operators must accord the prize in advance.

In order to fulfill Virginia’s requirements, the companies have to check that every customer is 18 years or older. Furthermore, employees at those corporations are banned to bet on similar competitions and there is going to be two yearly audits to verify the accomplishments of the legal formalities.