Breaking news: Gujarat HC dismisses poker clubs’ petition, rules poker to be a game of chance [Updated]
Justice Rajesh H. Shukla of the Gujarat High Court dismissed the special civil petition fil🐟ed by KN Suresh of Indian Poker Association, Dominance Games Pvt. Ltd., AAA Gaming Pvt. Ltd. and other poker clubs that sought recognition of poker as a game of ski꧃ll and direction to the police to refrain from interfering in the peaceful conduct of the game of poker in their clubs.
Justice Shukla rejected the petitions filed by the poker clubs in an order pronounced today. The matꦺter pertaining to whether poker is a game of skill and consequently whether it can be played for stakes was argued at length from July to September this year after which Justice Shukla had reserved the matter for final orders an🎃d listed it on 23rd November.
The matter was listed on board twic𓄧e, , but a final order was not pronounced on those two dates. Ultimately, Justice Shukla pronounced the final verdict in court today.
Justice Shukla in his order clearly and categorically ruled that poker does not involve a substantial element of skill and falls within the ambit of gambling under the Gujarat Prevention of G💙ambling Act, 1887. He further said that the letter of the Ahmedabad police com💧missioner’s office dated 15th March, 2017 is not illegal, arbitrary or against principles of natural justice as the police have merely interpreted the statutory provision under the Gambling Act.
The petitioner clubs have indicated that they would be filing an appeal against this adverse order o𒊎f Justice Shukla before a division bench of the Gujꦦarat High Court very soon.
The decision of the Gujarat High Court is seen to be a major setback not just for the poker clubs who approached the High Court but also for the online poker and skill games industry 💦in India, as the adverse order of the Gujarat High Court comes just weeks after the passed a Bill to ban online gambling and skill games played for stakes.
Note: This story has been updated after receiving the order of the Gujarat High Court.
