Indian Poker Association Files Appeal Over Gujarat Ruling

6 years ago
Indian Poker Association Files Appeal Over Gujarat Ruling
11:41
31 Dec

The "poker as skill" debate will again find its way into a courtroom after the Indian Poker Association (IPA) appealed a ruling handed down in early December by Gujarat High Court Justice Rajesh H. Shukla, who decreed that poker is a game of chance.

Justice Shukla's decision categorizes poker as gambling under the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act. His ruling outlaws poker both online and in live poker clubs, affecting 63 million Indians who reside in the state of Gujarat.

The appeal is up for a hearing on Jan. 23, 2018, where attorneys for the IPA will once again point out the skill required to be a successful poker player. A number of hearings were held throughout 2017, including testimony and demonstrations by poker pros, but Justice Shukla was apparently not swayed.



Legal Battles and WSOP Bracelets

IPA lawyers found fault with Shukla's opinion, citing his reliance on archaic scriptures in issuing his ruling. The appeal states that "the judgment focuses on completely unfounded and unrelated principles .... to arrive at an erroneous conclusion that poker would constitute gambling," according to the Times of India.

The Gujarat High Court decision followed a bill passed by the Telangana legislature a few weeks ago that bans online gambling for real money. These adverse decisions come at a time when the popularity of poker is skyrocketing in India.

In addition to the formation of new poker leagues in the country such as the Match Indian Poker League, 2017 saw Indian players capture WSOP gold braceletes for the first time. Nipun Java and Aditya Sushant won the $1,000 Tag Team NLHE event over 843 entries to make poker history and collect $150,637. Java added another WSOP title to his resume the next month, taking down the $1,000 ONLINE Championship for $237,688.


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Charles is a Chicago native and long time poker player who dusted off his journalism degree and began writing about poker following the events of Black Friday in 2011. He has written for a number of leading poker websites, offering his insights and expertise on subjects ranging from online poker leg...Read more

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