So poker is a game of skill? Officially? Well, there was some huge news last week for poker players in India. According to reporting from the Bangalore Mirror, the Indian Poker Association (IPA), in petitions filed before the High Court of Karnataka (a state in Southwest India), had alleged that police officers were “humiliating and harassing aspiring poker players by filing cases against them.”

The court eventually came to the conclusion that poker is a game of skill, which is widely acknowledge in the United States and elsewhere, and that card clubs don’t have to have a license to offer such games to players, whether amateurs or professionals. In other words, it sided with the IPA — and the players weren’t involved in misconduct. The IPA reportedly had also sought action against the law enforcement who illegally cracked down on the clubs and its players. The court said it will have to pursue that action elsewhere, however.

Suresh K Naduvath, honorary secretary of IPA, said “In the E Eranna & others vs State of Karnataka case (1977), it was laid down that, ‘it is manifest that a game of skill would not be held to be gambling’. Poker is a game of skill, just like golf, cricket, scrabble, carom, rummy, basketball or volleyball and betting or wagering in games of skill or athletic games in Karnataka is permissible. The only two states where betting or wagering is not permissible even in games of skill is Odisha and Assam.”

The whole case stems from a raid that happened on July 27. Police busted the Royal Flush Sports and Cultural Association in Chamrajpet. Criminal cases were filed against 30 card players. Read more when you visit the source of this story on the Card Player website.