Texas hold 'em fans will be playing for a trip to Las Vegas at Snowshoe Mountain resort this weekend after state Lottery Commission officials noted they did not wager anything, or pay an entry fee, to play.
The tournament is sponsored by West Virginia Broadcasting. Participants qualified for the tournament by calling in to radio stations. They will play with plastic chips.
The winner, however, will receive $10,000 for entry into the national tournament in Las Vegas and airfare from West Virginia to Nevada. There are other prizes for contestants who don't take first place.
John Melton, the commission's attorney, said many charity events held around roulette wheels and poker tables are illegal because they charge people an entry fee and give them prizes, despite participants playing without money.
Melton pointed to a state Supreme Court decision saying gambling needs three components: chance, which this event has; a prize, which this event has; and consideration, or betting, which the event does not have.
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So, does this description fit poker?
No. at least no more than backgammon, a dice game that the WV code specifically says is NOT gambling while also stating dice games are gambling. Hummmm.
.
No more that Spades, Hearts, Free Cell and 50+ other games can legally be played online via MSN, YAHOO, AOL, World Winner and many other sites.
See GAMES, then click Cash / Skill in the Games Section to see them and yes, these are United States Companies located in Massachusetts.
You can even play tournament poker online via spade Club, Pure Play, ClubVIP (owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and many other U.S. sites.
So, why even the question on a free game.
Only 1 of the three considerations are met, prize. Poker, like Backgammon relies only partially on luck, a minor part at that for skilled play