Is Smash legal in your state?

[Jam Stunna]

Not the game itself, but tournament level Smash.

I was listening to a story on NPR about the NCAA tournament and that, depending on your state, participating in office pools is technically illegal because it's gambling. That reminded me of a conversation I had a few years ago with crew mates about whether a Smash tournament is actually legal in our home state of Connecticut. CT general statutes state:

Sec. 52-553. Wagering contract void.

All wagers, and all contracts and securities of which the whole or any part of the consideration is money or other valuable thing won, laid or bet, at any game, horse race, sport or pastime, and all contracts to repay any money knowingly lent at the time and place of such game, race, sport or pastime, to any person so gaming, betting or wagering, or to repay any money lent to any person who, at such time and place, so pays, bets or wagers, shall be void, provided nothing in this section shall (1) affect the validity of any negotiable instrument held by any person who acquired the same for value and in good faith without notice of illegality in the consideration, or (2) apply to the sale of a raffle ticket pursuant to section 7-172.

So gambling in CT is illegal. But is Smash gambling?

(2) "Gambling " means risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance or the operation of a gambling device, including the playing of a casino gambling game such as blackjack, poker, craps, roulette or a slot machine, but does not include: Legal contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entries; legal business transactions which are valid under the law of contracts; activity legal under the provisions of sections 7-169 to 7-186, inclusive; any lottery or contest conducted by or under the authority of any state of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any possession or territory of the United States; and other acts or transactions expressly authorized by law on or after October 1, 1973;

I guess it all hinges on whether or not the law considers the playing of a videogame to be a contest as opposed to a game of chance (which is a legitimate question for the uninitiated). This is all academic anyway, as I doubt that the state troopers are going to start raiding Smash tournaments even if it is illegal. But just think how cool it would be if we were all outlaws!

Oh yeah, my source- http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Connecticut/

 

[Redman061]

this has always been a problem with game centers in CT and the reason why CT is always excluded from holding MLG or any other major tournaments for prize money. I will never be able to go more then a small tournament base until that law is gone because the fear of being shutdown is always there....

 

[TP]

If I remember correctly from a previous time this was brought up, our tournaments are clearly legal in 38 states, illegal in 6, and it's foggy in 6. I don't remember what states are in which category.

 

[GunmasterLombardi]

this has always been a problem with game centers in CT and the reason why CT is always excluded from holding MLG or any other major tournaments for prize money. I will never be able to go more then a small tournament base until that law is gone because the fear of being shutdown is always there....

That's the dumbest thing I've ever read.

 

[PwnerBren7]

That's some crazy stuff

Could you imagine, officials arresting TOs during a Tournament?

 

[Redman061]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Yes......so dumb........Because I am going to risk everything I have worked for. The venue would also be held liable with the TO. A small tournament would not be bothered but, a major convention or tournament with some major prize money could draw the wrong kind of attention.

 

[ETWIST51294]

LOL if no one snitches, you would never be arrested for such a thing. This is one of those crimes police doesn't enforce unless told to. Honestly, I think you have nothing to worry about.

 

[thechunkylover]

Isn't this why they don't play for money (irc) in Japan?

 

[S.G.]

how sketchy does a bunch of kids playing a video game look to the cops?

 

[ihavespaceblondes]

how sketchy does a bunch of kids playing a video game look to the cops?

Well, considering the parade of cop cars that descended upon people leaving TGMTSBCO (Exarch's car got pulled over the instant it left the parking lot, iirc), I'd say just slightly less sketchy than this guy:

 

[mr.fizwidget]

smash tourney are, from my experience, one of the biggest drug fronts in the U.S.