The National Poker Challenge, a new, Arkansas-based poker establishment is a technically legal non-gambling poker establishment.  The poker room does not offer any pay to play features and is strictly considered to be legal at its other locations in cities such as Memphis and Portland.  Arkansas law-enforcement officials maintained that the business model is still completely illegal by Arkansas gambling law, as the fact is that players compete for cash prizes and play against each other in all manner of poker tournaments, considered to be gambling in the state of Arkansas, regardless of the fact that it is free to enter into these types of games.  The publicity and exposure generated by the type of legal non-pay to play gambling that the National Poker Challenge has provided for the poker industry is a great boon to the gaming establishments and poker rooms that make up the bulk of the poker industry.  By hosting and allowing all manner of poker tournaments, the proprietors can allow the industry to receive that much more attention and generate that many more new players.  By generating new players and keeping new action at the tables, the gaming establishment ensures that the tradition of poker games will stay popular and continue to generate income for users and players at all levels.

The specifics of the case and exactly what is considered to be illegal in relation to Arkansas gambling law is a somewhat gray and vague area, as the legal establishment in Little Rock has yet to elaborate on what is considered legal and illegal in the world of Arkansas gambling.  A National Poker Challenge poker room will still open up as planned, although slightly behind schedule.  Despite the pressure from Arkansas lawmakers, the poker room establishment proprietors cling to the firm belief that their version of non paying poker game and tournament playing is not truly gambling and should be considered perfectly legal in every state including Arkansas.

While National Poker Challenge poker rooms continue to operate in other areas, Arkansas officials say that, despite the fact that they have not required that the poker room not open, it is still considered to be illegal and they intend to monitor the activities of the poker room to ensure no illegal gambling occurs.  It is unlikely that under this could close scrutiny any illegal gambling can occur.