Is legalized poker on the cards for Israel?

B. Salomon,
November 5, 2018 1h42

The Israeli Supreme Court recently said that poker was a game of skill rather than luck. Sharren Haskel of Likud has just presented to the Knesset a bill that would recognize poker as a skill-based game, allowing it to bypbad the country's strict anti-gambling laws.

Strict laws on gambling in Israel

Israel has a harsh approach to gaming and in 2017 imposed a total ban on slot machines and horse racing. Currently, the country only allows two lotteries run by the state, namely the national lottery (Mifal Hapayis) and a weekly lottery for sports betting boards (Toto).

Needless to say, there is no casino on the lands located on the southeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and certainly no poker. This is due to a conservative vision of the game that sees the hobby as a tax on the poor, and as Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said two years ago: "Illusions and False hopes of Israel are sold every day. "

Poker's legality

Strict rules apply to those who break the law. Anyone who plays poker risks up to one year in prison, while for those who organize poker tournaments, the penalty can be up to three years. In reality, however, Israel enjoys a thriving poker scene, with thousands of Israelis playing online gambling or going to events around the world. For example, three of the first five WSOP Europe tournaments this year were won by Israeli players.

Decision of the Supreme Court

In 2009, the badociation of Israeli poker players petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to allow Texas Holdem tournaments to be allowed in the country. Unfortunately, their efforts to present poker as an address game instead of a gambling game were not accepted and the court rejected their claims regarding the famous card game. Recently, however, Supreme Court Justice Neal Hendel made a positive decision regarding poker as an address game and wrote:

"The fact that players participate in contests and tournaments year after year reinforces the conclusion that it is not a game of chance."

Without wasting time, Sharren Haskel, a Likud member, introduced a bill calling for poker to be considered an address game and poker tournaments allowed in Israel. The purpose of the bill is to put the decision of the Supreme Court in the act. The Israeli Ministry of Finance would then be responsible for regulating and regulating the future sector and, of course, collecting tax revenue.

Will there be enough support?

Commenting on his bill, Mr. Haskel stated that the Supreme Court had ruled that poker was a skill-based game and not a form of gambling. In addition, he stated that poker players should "be allowed to practice at home ", thus enabling them to win new distinctions for their country on the international scene.

"Israeli sportsmen bring respect and pride to the state in international competitions," said Haskel.

Mr. Haskel's bill has been tabled in the Knesset for consideration, but it remains to be seen what support will be provided by the legislature of the country. Meanwhile, the attitude of Israeli legislators towards other types of gambling, which continue to be banned in the country, hardly seems to have softened.

Last month, for example, a Tel Aviv district court judge ruled that three gambling sites should be banned from targeting Israeli customers (www.p2vbet.com, www.1xbet.com, and www. .totobet777.com). Ironically, however, Israel has become a hub for the creation of international gaming company offices. Ladbrokes Coral, 888 and Playtech are among the multitude of companies that have already done so.