On a relative measure of skill for games with chance elements

In various countries, including the Netherlands and Austria, legislation is such that the question whether a specific game should be considered as a game of chance or as a game of skill is predominant in the exploitation decision of private casinos. This paper aims for an objective and operational criterium to quantify the relative level of skill with respect to chance of games in order to provide a juridical tool for classification. The various concepts are illustrated by means of variations of Poker. This research is sponsored by Novomatic Holland BV, Nieuwegein. We acknowledge comments and advise from Marcel Dreef, Stef Tijs and Hans Moors of Tilburg University, of Wilfried Grossmann of the University of Vienna and of Peter Zanoni of the Concord Card Casino in Vienna.