The legality of poker rooms in Arizona is a complicated question. On the one hand, the state’s penal code makes gambling a misdemeanor, providing that games of chance are “illegal games of chance.
” On the other hand, the Arizona Constitution provides for “the right of the people to engage in lawful gaming.”.
In practice, this has led to a legal ambiguity. The Arizona Attorney General has taken the position that poker rooms are not legal games of chance, while many judges have ruled that they are.
As a result, many poker rooms operate in Arizona without incident, while others have been closed down by the Attorney General.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual county prosecutor to decide whether or not to prosecute a poker room for gambling violations. In most cases, prosecution is unlikely, but it is always possible.
Therefore, it is important for any poker room operator in Arizona to consult with an attorney if there are any questions about the legality of their operation.
