Poker tournaments could soon be made available in Israel if a certain lawmaker has her way. Legislators are said to be considering a bill introduced by Sharren Haskel, who represents the Likud party, that would redefine poker and remove it from the classification of a gambling game. The only thing standing between Israelis and poker now is the Knesset.
As it is in several other countries, poker is illegal in Israel. Anyone found organizing poker tournaments can be sentenced to up to three years in prison and anyone playing could face up to a year behind bars. A recent Supreme Court decision, however, is forcing politicians to revisit the definition of poker and this could soon lead to an entirely new poker market being created.
Supreme Court Judge Neal Hendel asserted in a recent case that poker is a game of skill and not a game of luck. He added, “The fact that the players go to contests and tournaments year after year strengthens the conclusion that it is not a game of luck.”
The bill being considered by the Knesset would put into law that court ruling and would lead to the creation of regulations for the Israeli Poker Players Association. It would allow the group to organize tournaments at both the national and the international level with oversight provided by the country’s Finance Ministry.