[satelliter]

Careful whom you call idiot. A 4 year old can beat the best backgammon player in the world in one game, but that did not stop the New York State courts from deciding that betting on backgammon is NOT illegal gambling under the NYS constitution. The issue is whether the game is PREDOMINANTLY one of skill or luck, and if New York follows California, poker will be ruled a game of skill--predominantly, not completely.

Reading the on-line version of the NYS Constitution linked above, I find no definition of gambling. New York courts have properly defined gambling quite narrowly to limit this paternalistic and invasive provision which probably had a religious origin. Any activity, enjoyable or otherwise, especially involving spending money, can be addictive and might be harmful to many members of society, but that by itself is no reason to deny it to informed adults. Might as well ban television.