Iowa Court Reverses Blackjack Conviction

A court in the Midwestern US state of Iowa last Wednesday reversed a conviction of a man accused of cheating at blackjack at a local casino, US media reported.

Mitchell Smith was previously convicted for increasing his bet after seeing his cards at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in 2006. He was charged with intending to defraud without having made a wager and with claiming an amount of money higher than that actually won.

However, the Iowa court that overturned the conviction said Smith didn't violate the first part because he made an actual bet.

In his defense, Smith said his chips accurately reflected his winnings.

Watch video trailers of blackjack online games.

UIGEA Comment
Also in Iowa, the head of the state lottery, Terry Rich, has said he believes US Congressman Barney Frank's efforts to overturn the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act will succeed.

In a meeting with the Iowa Lottery Board, Rich said Iowa must keep its options open, saying: "Based upon what we are seeing, I think that the federal government may pass something. Obviously, our job as employees of the state...is to make sure that our elected officials know that if it does pass, what impact it might have for the state."

South Carolina
Meanwhile, in more good news for pro-gambling advocates, five South Carolina men also had their conviction for illegal gambling overturned last week.

The five were arrested for illegal gambling in South Carolina after authorities caught them playing poker.

Many forms of gambling are illegal in South Carolina, but the court in this case ruled that poker is a game of chance and not skill.