Judge Rules Poker Is a Game of Skill, Not Gambling

Declares poker games legal under federal law.

A Brooklyn judge dealt a winning hand to card players across the nation Tuesday, ruling that poker is mostly a game of skill, not luck, and is therefore legal under federal law.

The 120-page decision by Federal Judge Jack Weinstein folded the conviction of Lawrence Dicristina, of Staten Island, who admitted to running Texas Hold'em contests.