A recent case court case involving the game of mahjong in New York may help determine the outcome of the game of poker in the United States. Mahjong is a popular game played in the US and recently two people were tried for promoting gambling and possessing a gambling device. The ruling made by the judge was that mahjong is a contest of chance and his findings could help the game of poker be ruled as a game of skill not chance.

Judge John H. Wilson is the judge presiding over the People v. Feng case which includes two mahjong players. The two players supposedly promoted gambling with the game of mahjong and possessing a gambling device. Wilson eventually ruled the game a ‘contest of chance’ and he stated that the game is a game of skill and not chance.

Mahjong is a popular game that has been played since Before Christ. The game has ties to this era and apparently has mass appeal since it has lasted this long. Some of the best online casinos offer the game of mahjong and it is not unusual to see players enjoying it in a board game form as well. The game takes patience as well as some level of skill to be able to win.

Judge Wilson’s findings could help give the game of poker in the US a positive chance. His ruling may determine if other similar games, like poker, will be deemed games of skill as well. If the skill level can be determined, the maybe legislatures will be able to see that the game is one of skill and not one simply of chance, then legislation could be created to allow online poker and other gaming in the US.


- 2012-02-03