Gambling charges tossed
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By LEON BOGDAN
Press Enterprise Writer
BLOOMSBURG — Poker tournament organizer Walter "Buzz" Watkins and his dealer girlfriend have beat gambling charges.
A judge has ruled they broke no laws in staging a high-stakes garage game in Bloomsburg that was infiltrated by an undercover trooper.
Columbia County Judge Thomas A. James Jr. ruled that Texas Hold 'Em requires more skill than chance to win, meaning no gambling laws were violated.
State troopers from the Hazleton vice squad sent an undercover trooper in as a player on several occasions in August and September.
They said Watkins would recruit players for "no limit" betting pots while "tips" were regularly paid by winning players to dealer Diane Dent.
"You can go in an idiot and still win," State Police Cpl. David Darrough had testified of the luck of the draw he believed was involved.
Texas Hold 'Em uses a three-card "flop" or community hand, a "turn" card and a "river" or final card with players holding two cards in hand.
'Skill predominates'
James cited extensively from statistical studies about the game and other poker books in defending his legal analysis that more skill than luck is involved in such games.
Those academic studies and experts "generally agree that a player must be skillful to be successful at poker .... Know the rules and the mathematical odds .... Read their opponents' 'tells' and styles .... Know when to hold and fold and raise," James wrote in his order.
"This court finds that Texas Hold 'Em poker is a game where skill predominates over chance. Thus, it is not 'unlawful gambling' under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code," the judge ruled.
Besides dismissing up to 20 gambling violations against the two defendants, James ordered that State Police return all property seized in the raid on Watkins' residence at 725 Market St. and rented garage at 35 W. Eighth St.
Included in the seizure were four card tables, assorted poker chips, cards and $3,700 in cash.
'Like to play'
Watkins, 44, says he felt all along he and his 44-year-old girlfriend were not involved in any criminal activity.
"We like to play poker. We carved our own business niche and it's growing. We get new faces all the time," Watkins said.
"It's unfortunate we had to go through all this. We were arrested, taken out of our home. Shackled and spent a night in prison. All for playing poker," he said.
"We're very happy. We felt Judge James is a great jurist. He uses common sense, knows what's going on. It's the right decision,"
His attorney, Peter Campana of Williamsport, said the gambling laws in Pennsylvania are "too broad" and should be rewritten to reflect specific activity that could be enforced.
'Money flows ...'
In his opinion, James noted how gambling and poker are viewed differently from state to state.
In Pennsylvania, electronic or video poker machines are illegal because winning is determined largely by chance, the court cited.
In live poker games, elements of skill and being knowledgeable about the game and even "bluffing" all play a part in determining who wins, the judge reasoned.
Citing from "Caro's Secrets of Winning Poker," the court cited how as a game of skill "the money flows from the bad players to the strong players. It's as simple as that."
Watkins recalled how the undercover trooper was "horrible" at the game.
"He did win some. But you have to know how to play," Watkins remarked.
"The funny part is, there was no need to send him in there. I get three or four police officers who play regularly in our games now."
Reporter Leon Bogdan covers courts and police and can be reached at 784-2121, extension 1307, or by e-mailing him at leon.b@pressenterprise.net.