High Court Asks Gujarat Govt to Clarify Whether Poker is Game of Skill, Next Hearing on Nov 8

In a case of putting the cart before the horse, the case filed by the Indian Poker Association (IPA) in the Gujarat High Court was a pre-emptive move by the association to avoid any interference from local authorities, before any actual objections were raised.

PokerGuru got a clarification from KN Suresh, IPA Secretary, on the issue. He stated that he had informed the local civic body and the police of his intention to commence operations at the YMCA, Ahmedabad with a seven-table poker room. In response, on October 18, Anand Nagar police called the IPA questioning whether they had the required permits for such a venture. This prompted KN Suresh to immediately approach the Court for relief from any further objections.

The IPA petitioned the Gujarat High Court asking that the local authorities be restrained from stopping such poker games. In their petition, IPA cited state laws which said, “Since poker is not gambling, it is not under the ambit of the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1987. The expression ‘Poker’ does not form part of ‘gaming or gambling’.”

In response, the Court called upon the Public Prosecutor, who has taken time till November 8, to take clarifications from the state on the legality and permits required to run a poker room for stakes.

The court has also directed that the IPA may approach it, in case of any interference from any local authorities and currently IPA games are running smoothly at the YMCA.

An upbeat Suresh spoke of the IPA’s expansion plans and said, “We are looking at opening up poker rooms all across the country with atleast eight new cities in the pipeline before March, 2017. Chandigarh and Ludhiana in Punjab, Jaipur in Rajashthan, Gurgaon, Varanasi, Pune, Nagpur, Surat & Baroda are all cities we intend to open poker rooms in very soon“.

Looks like the legal crusader KN Suresh is on a mission to make Poker a national sport in the country with a legal and safe venue in every major city!