Is World Poker Tour Legal?

The World Poker Tour (WPT) is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in 2002 by Steve Lipscomb, who served as the CEO of WPT Enterprises (now WPT Media) until his death in 2020.

The tour has since been operated by Ourgame International, a Chinese company that also owns the World Series of Poker.

The legality of the World Poker Tour has been called into question on several occasions. In 2010, the United States Department of Justice issued a grand jury subpoena to WPT Enterprises as part of an investigation into possible illegal gambling by poker players on the tour.

PRO TIP:Poker is a game of skill, and the World Poker Tour (WPT) is a professional tournament series that is held around the world. While there are no federal laws banning poker in the US, individual states have their own laws that must be followed. It’s important to research the local laws and regulations where you live before participating in any WPT tournament.

The investigation was later dropped and no charges were filed.

In 2012, the Canadian government launched an investigation into the World Poker Tour after receiving complaints that the tour was violating Canadian gambling lAWS. The investigation was ultimately dropped and no charges were filed.

The legality of the World Poker Tour has also been questioned in other countries, including Australia and France. However, to date, no charges have been filed against the tour or any of its participants in any country.

Based on the above information, it appears that the World Poker Tour is legal. However, given that it has been questioned on several occasions, it is advisable to consult with a legal expert in your jurisdiction if you have any concerns about participating in the tour.