Poker, as a sports game, has never been widely accepted. A lot of people still believe that it is gambling.
Poker players will argue that it is not. That there are skills involved. They are so passionate about the game that they would defend it.
But one particular poker player has caught the news due to the exact opposite. He is pushing it as a game of chance.
Jonathan Duhamel
Jonathan Duhamel is The 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champion. Duhamel, who has won $18 million and sits 33rd on the all-time money list according to The Hendon Mob.
Duhamel’s contract with PokerStars was worth $1 million for the following year. Of that $1 million, $480,000 was paid out in cash while another $520,000 was provided as tournament entries and fees.
But due to a tax case. He is fighting that poker is a game of chance.
Oh, Canada!
In Canada, the tax law does not require payments from winnings stemming from games of chance.
Duhamel, who has won more than $18 million, argued that poker is a game of chance and should not be taxable.
The Canada Revenue Agency believes otherwise. To them, Duhamel’s poker activities constitute the running of a business
The tax authorities maintain that Duhamel’s action constituted a business and not recreational gambling because he took the game very seriously, played heavy volume with 40-plus hours per week, and didn’t earn other income.
They also cited his piece swaps as evidence he was operating a business.
he’s therefore responsible for CA$1,219,114 in federal back taxes stemming from 2010-2012. That number could double with state taxes to Quebec, which would bring the total to roughly CA$2.4 million (~$1.8 million).
The counter
His argument is that he has never “received specific training” in poker, and that luck, therefore, drove him to the millions he won.
His being labeled a professional poker player by sponsoring site PokerStars was purely for marketing purposes.
How about you? what do you believe in?
For those who believed poker is a game of skill. We are hoping to launch a series of promotions to support new and small poker players.
Yes, times have been tough due to covid and some people want a break.
We might just be able to give that break.
Stay tuned!
