Many younger players and those new to the game may not be aware of Ted Barr and the landmark case he won in Oregon in 1981.

Ted was a lawyer and backgammon player who had begun to organise tournaments. After three undercover cops took part in one of his events Ted was charged with 'organising a game of chance' and 'promoting bookmaking' (several players made side bets on the outcome of matches), at least one of these 'side betters' was also charged.

To cut a long story short the cost of the defence was huge and Ted was soon forced to consider a plea deal but Kate Watson, wife of tournament organiser Henry came to his aid.

Henry Watson appeared as an expert witness but the key witness for the defence was undoubtedly Paul Magriel. After five hours of rehearsals with the defence attorney the previous evening, Magriel's testimony was lucid and compelling.

Judge Walker's verdict...
Backgammon is a game of skill, not a game of chance.

This was one of two big trials around that time involving backgammon. The other was in Atlantic City, NJ, where Lewis Deyong was trying to organize a big tournament at one of the Atlantic City casinos. (NJ had legalized casino gambling a few years earlier.) Paul also testified at that trial. There the judge ruled that (a) backgammon was a game of chance, and (b) that the statute legalizing casino gambling only applied to the gambling games specifically mentioned in the statute. So backgammon was out in NJ.

Interesting BIll, how the heck was I unaware of this?

It got some media play at the time (1982, I think) but not a lot. It would have gotten a mention in some of the backgammon periodicals -- Las Vegas BG Magazine, or Backgammon Times, Henry Wattson's magazine. If I get some spare time I'll try to look it up.

ty Bill