"Kandu" Poker Game Future in Question

From Witchita, Kansas news for card players is not good. The creators of a card game call Kandu Challenge a card game based on skill, not chance. Prosecutors call it illegal.

The state shut the game down last month at Highlands Gastro Pub and Card Room in Wichita. A judge will now decide if that injunction holds.

Today the judge heard from card dealers, players and the game's creators who say they're not sure what to make of the day.

"So far the only word I could choose would be interesting. I'm curious to see where the defense is going with a lot of their questioning as a lot of it seems to be irrelevant at this point to the actual case being that the point is to establish whether the game is skill or not," Shane McCullough said.

A Wichita Police detective also testified about what he saw when he went into the pub undercover. Officer Jason Stephens says he didn't notice any of the players attempting to memorize the spread and apply skill.

Memorization is the major difference between Kandu and Texas Hold 'Em. In Kandu players can opt out of a hand after seeing the cards and their order in the deck.

The chips have no monetary value. However, there is a minimum $40 buy-in and a flat fee just for sitting at the table.

No portion of the money goes back to the house.

Court resumes in the morning.

News Added: 23 July, 2009

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