The State council to rule on the legality of poker tournaments

'A decision will be taken only after a report yet to be issued by the interior ministry'

Published: 04 September, 2008

Is the game of poker to be allowed or not? Should the police deny the authorisation to hold a poker tournament, an appeal can be lodged with the Regional Administrative Court (TAR); but should the Court reject the appeal, the only recourse left is to the State Council. This is what the president of an amateur association called Poker One did when asking for the cancellation of the new Prohibited Games table issued by the Campobasso Police as it included the game of poker among the games of chance forbidden.

The Court rejected the appeal and on 9th July the Association turned to the State Council. The ruling was issued yesterday by the 6th Section with an interim judgment dated 29th July. The panel of judges have decided to postpone a decision to the 21st October for the following reasons:

"from the evidence in Court it appears that the Police in different Provinces have taken divergent stands with regard to the legality of the poker game known as ‘Texas Hold'em' :

some have forbidden it, others have authorised it with limitations; that in the light of such difference of views it is necessary to obtain a detailed report from the Interior Ministry giving an account of the situation existing nationally, with a single preferred choice made at the centre; to set a deadline of 60 days for such a task from the communication of, or, if before, from the issue of this Order".

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