Bluefire Poker Challenges President Obama for $1,000,000

Admist of the great ongoing debate of the legality of online gambling, Bluefire Poker has issued a challenge to President Barack Obama himself and any other active member of the United States Congress. Headed by high-stakes online poker professional, Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond, the online training site's team is willing to put up $1 million against $1 from the President or another member of Congress. The goal is for the pros to prove once and for all to members of the United States Government that poker is a game of skill, not luck.

The challenge comes at a time when Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) prepares the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Also just recently, poker was ruled a game of skill, not luck, in a Pennsylvania court hearing. If the pros lose the challenge, the $1 million will be donated to a charity of choice.

Although the game structure is not yet known, the folks at Bluefire Poker had this to say in their official press release, "The specific terms of the game are to be announced but the format will include an equal number of chips at the start of the game. The length of the game must also be long enough to demonstrate the advantage of skill because Poker prowess and experience demonstrate themselves over time – in the long-run, the better player wins the game because the player’s skills increase the odds of success."

The press release also mentioned, "The legislative debate centers on whether or not Poker is a game of chance or skill, and this debate determines the legality of online gambling, according to legal and legislative experts on the subject. No one in their right mind would turn down this challenge if Poker were a game based on luck, because the odds are so far in their favor – putting up $1 for a chance to win $1,000,000 for the charity of their choice." (The official full press release can be viewed here.)

Despite the amazing odds being laid out, much of the poker community doesn't seem to believe that the challenge will take place, including Galfond. "Although I think it's unlikely we'd get taken up on this, I'd love to play to prove that poker was a game of skill. I really hope that the word gets out. Even if no one takes us up on it, the fact that we're legitimately offering $1,000,000 to $1 should convince some people that there's more to this game than just luck (or that we're out of our minds)," said Galfond in a recent blog entry on the website.

Much to Galfond's wishes, it looks like the word is spreading. Fox News received news of the challenge and talked about it recently on one of their broadcasts. Presenting the story for Fox News was former World Poker Tour hostess Courtney Friel. It's also fitting that the deadline acceptance has been set for March 17, 2009, St. Patrick's Day.

It's certainly no big secret that President Obama plays poker occasionally, as he's openly stated himself. That may just be the catalyst needed to get the challenge off the ground. It will be interesting to see if the politicians take the pros up on this offer and how things play out.