Gutshot Poker Club Court Case

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Times Online >> Chips are down as poker clubs await court ruling > Gutshot Poker Club Court Case

Gutshot Poker Club have been the subject of a year long investigation by the Gambling Commission and the Metropolitan police clubs and vice unit.

Gutshot has 12'000 members in the private poker club located at 44-48 Clerkenwell Road EC1. It is a private members club, membership is free. One can join only if they prove their identity via a passport or drivers license.

Poker is clearly a game of skill. The authorities seem to disagree. If poker is judged to be a game of skill in the UK courts, it can be played in private members clubs. If not, the game can only be played in licensed casinos.

Gutshot does not offer casino style games, only poker.

Gutshot Boss Derek Kelly said >>
"Poker is a game dominated by skill".
"Provided you are more able, ultimately you will be the winner. Like any game or sport, there are elements of luck. However, the more skilful player will win out in the end."
Darren Warner from the police clubs and vice unit said >>
"There seems to be a prima facia case of breaches of the Gaming Act, but there's no test case."
"The Gaming Act is a book as wide as Wales but there are a couple of specific offences. It's a very unusual police case in that the defendants and the police are saying exactly the same thing is happening. We're saying "You did this," and they're saying "Yes we did. But we don't think we're doing anything wrong"."
Poker clubs have popped up across England since the Gutshot opened. If Gutshot are found guilty at the Highbury magistrates court, the police will shut down all the poker clubs.

If Gutshot wins the case, there will be more poker clubs opening in England for sure.

Gamblog comment >> Long live Gutshot. Gutshot is a decent poker club. Apart from 1 fight recently between 2 members, Gutshot has an exemplorary record.

Perhaps someone from the police would like to put themselves up as a novice contender to take on the likes of Steve Badger over a lengthy period of poker play to prove their point. I know who my money would be on to come out ahead. The authorities are jokers if they think poker is not a game of skill.

1 hand of poker is down to luck who wins. Over the long run, the skilled poker operator will win hands down.

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