Switzerland - no interdiction for poker Texas Hold’em
The Swiss Federation of casinos has failed in obtaining the temporary interdiction for the poker tournaments “Texas Hold’em”. The Federal Court refused to give its vote until the dispute is not solved correctly.
Opposed to the green light given by the Federal Commission of Game Houses in organizing tournaments inside the casinos perimeters, the Federation has filed no less than sixty appeals to the Federal Administrative Court.
A first setback was already suffered last March, when the Federal Administrative Court denied a provisory interdiction. In their opinion, the risk of slippage, especially as regards the protection of young people, remains limited. Ultimately, the Federal Court does not want to look for a veto as long as the trial is still pending. They recalled that members of the Federation of casinos remain free to organize themselves poker tournaments.
The outcome of this case remains open. Any gaps in the legislation at the cantonal level do not justify a provisional interdiction of the tournaments, concludes Mon Repos.
In Switzerland, the canton of Vaud was the first, last month, to regulate these tournaments. The conditions of participation are inspired by those in casinos. All players must be 18 years at least. In order to be legal, the tournaments must meet a number of criteria which can be seen as “games of skill” and not “gambling”. The amounts wagered and redistributed, in particular, should be clarified.
September 11 2008 01:21 am | Poker