Switzerland bans private poker games

The decision will anger fans of the popular card game, which is popular in Swiss restaurants, bars and hotels. Tournaments also have a growing following on TV and the internet. "The horror," railed the website SwissPokerTour.ch, which brings together players and organisers around the country. "Today is a black day for all amateur poker players in Switzerland."

The game, played in the World Series of Poker in the US each year, starts with each player on the table receiving two cards face down. After a round of optional betting, three cards are "flopped" face up and more money can be waged. Then, two more community cards are drawn and bets can be placed after each.

The Supreme Court ruling came after Swiss casinos appealed a lower court decision that Texas hold 'em was a game of skill and could therefore be played anywhere. It said smaller poker matches could continue among friends, even if money is involved.

The Texas hold 'em debate has also divided opinion in other countries. A Pennsylvania appeals court ruled 2-1 in March that it was illegal because it met the definition of gambling because the outcome is more dependent upon chance than skill. Many aficionados and self-styled "professionals" disagree, however.

In Switzerland, games of luck such as roulette and slot machines are restricted to licensed casinos, which pay a hefty 50 % tax on profits. Private organizers of poker games weren't paying those taxes, argued Marc Friedrich, head of the Swiss Federation of Casinos.