Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Is Backgammon considered Gambling?

Penal Code section 330 makes operation of a game of chance a misdemeanor. This section names many games specifically and backgammon is not among them, but there is some catchall language affecting other unnamed games of chance.

I found one case saying that backgammon is not a game in which chance predominates, even though the moves are governed by the throw of dice. See Looff versus City of Long Beach (1957) 153 Cal. App. 2nd at page 174.

This suggests in a preliminary way that backgammon is not gambling. I can't assist you or comment on the percentage pay-out. I think you run some risk of being accused of gambling and having to defend yourself, although the Looff decision would be useful in defense.

You might try contacting the district attorney in your county to see if they would be willing to give you an informal opinion whether your plan would in their opinion subject you to prosecution. There could be local ordinances that I am not aware of.