Indian Poker Association to open venue in Ranchi

This Independence Day poker gets a further shot of freedom when a new venue opens up in the eastern part of the country specifically in Ranchi. The Indian Poker Association or IPA which has for long been on a crusade to make poker legal and available across the country has announced its plan to open a poker room in Ranchi’s Holiday Home Hotel.

The move has come about with the IPA initiating this venture with its affiliate, the East India Poker Association. According to IPA Secretary and legal eagle KN Suresh, a dialogue has been initiated with the local police authorities by both entities and thus far there has been no objection raised, “The Director General of Police (DGP) has responded to our request for an NOC to play skill card game of poker by intimating the jurisdiction police vide their letter that IPA is inaugurating the Jharkhand Chapter at Holiday Home and that the activities in the association premises will be covered by CCTV.”

Suresh went to mention that presently the plan is have 3 tables running in the venue and they intend to host tournaments as and when there is growing demand from the local poker base.

In the past Suresh and the IPA has fought long and hard to legitimise poker in the country and it is due to his efforts that Bangalore and Kolkata courts recognise poker as a game of skill and as a result poker rooms have mushroomed in both cities with the IPA too having its own rooms in both. There were plans to start a Delhi chapter as well as multiple rooms in Ahmedabad. But plans in both have stalled with the case languishing in Delhi’s courts and as for Ahmedabad, the police commissioner refused to recognise poker as a skill game and rejected the IPA’s application. Despite all these hurdles, the fight goes on.

It has not stopped a determined Suresh who continues to spread the word of poker across the country. A far more positive response from Ranchi could mean that this city could join the likes of Bangalore and Kolkata in terms of becoming a poker hub for young emerging players.

Independence Day action at IPA Ranchi will begin at 2:00 pm on 15 August.