Many debate whether the game of poker is a game of skill or chance. If the game can be classified as a game of skill then many countries would be able to enjoy the game online. A Dutch professor who is an expert in probability and statistics has stated that he helped create a formula that clearly shows poker as a game of skill.

Professor Ben van der Genugten called to reclassify poker as a game of skill not a game of chance as it had been called since 1998. Ben approached the Dutch Supreme Court with his thoughts. He also told the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the university he teaches about the formula he helped create.

Ben defines the formula as proving poker is a game of skill more so than any other games such as fantasy sports that has already been classified as a game of skill. Professor Peter Borm, a mathematics and game theory specialist helped create the formula.

Ben has appeared as an expert witness in several cases and also been consulted on the application of the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act. Ben also determined the skill ratio of Texas Hold’em on a Dutch television show during an experiment.

The formula establishes a skill value or ratio to determine the relationship between chance and skill and also considering the learning impact of a particular game. A more experienced player versus a beginner will have a different outcome, thus the result qualifies skill.


- 2008-10-09