Legalise Poker in N. Ireland

The antiquated gambling laws in N Ireland need to be changed. It makes no sense that games of chance, such as bingo and slot/fruit machines, as well as bookmaking, are all allowed while poker, which is a game of skill requiring maths, game theory, psychology and more, is not permitted.

Clubs where people from all backgrounds gather to enjoy a good game of poker, a friendly safe place, where no drink is served, and people just get along, having fun, good craic, and also places that could employ quite a few good people, are not permitted to operate legally in N. Ireland (unlike the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland).

This makes no sense. Poker is a game of skill. Meanwhile, there are bookies in every town, and that's pure gambling, as are the lottery, bingo and fruit machines. These are permitted but poker is not.

Take one Friday night this past October as an example. 70 men and women, ages 21 – 70 or so, Protestant and Catholic, from all different religious, social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, spent an evening together, all getting along and enjoying a night of poker. All for 30 quid per person. 70 people who were not getting drunk in a pub, or causing trouble on the roads and streets of our towns and cities.

Poker would also bring needed jobs and revenue to N. Ireland if it were legal and regulated.

Poker Rooms are in fact, in a microcosm of what all of N Ireland aspires to be, a place where everyone gets along and just gets on with life. Where Protestant and Catholics don’t merely co-exist, but form friendships that then grow both in and out of the poker club. Why would anyone want to prevent this?