The old argument of luck versus skill in relation to poker has reared its head in Denmark recently. According to the Copenhagen Post, a Danish municipal court has ruled that poker tournaments do not contravene Danish gaming laws because they are games of skill and offer a form of legitimate competition.
The ruling overturns a decision made by the Justice Ministry’s legal affairs committee in 2006, which stipulated that poker was a form of illegal gambling.

The latest ruling has acquitted Frederik Hostrup, president of the Danish Poker Association, of charges of presiding over illegal gambling events. Horesta, a hotel and trade organization, had brought the case against Hostrup on behalf of Denmark’s land casinos.

Hostrup’s attorney, Henrik Hoffmann, told Politiken newspaper that Friday’s ruling will be welcomed by poker fans all over Denmark. Referring to the game as “a sport of the people,” Hoffman said that poker is about betting wisely and using strategy to outsmart opponents. “There are between 200 000 and 300 000 Danes who play poker at least once a week and more than half a million who now play regularly,” he said. “You can win in poker based on being clever enough to hide your strategy, even though you might have a fairly poor hand.”

Erik Jensen, a spokesperson for Horesta, said he was disappointed by the ruling and cited fears of increasing gambling addiction in Denmark was the main reason for initiating legal proceedings against Hostrup. “Anytime you play for money, the risk for becoming a gambling addict increases,” Jensen said. “85,000 Danes are potential addicts, which is why these precautionary measures are so important.”
The prosecution must make an appeal against the ruling within 14 days to keep the case alive.

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