Rummy & Poker Are Games Of Skill And 'Not Driven By Luck', IIT-Delhi Study Finds

The study's leading professor said that the research "will debunk the yesteryear myth of the games being driven by luck and highlight the skill required in order to be successful."

The study's findings revealed non-linear trends in skill variables and winning percentages.

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In a recent research endeavour led by Professor Tapan K. Gandhi from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi), along with his team, an extensive study has affirmed that poker and rummy are indeed games predominantly driven by skill rather than luck. This study, titled "Online Poker and Rummy - Game of Skill or Chance?" sheds light on the pivotal role of cognitive and other acquired skills in achieving success in these card games. Furthermore, it delves into the influence of experience and learnable abilities on a player's long-term performance in these sports.

Gandhi, who is an associate professor in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering and the Cadence Chair Professor of AI and Automation at IIT-Delhi, noted that in the midst of ongoing debates surrounding online gaming and biased perceptions that label it as taboo due to preconceived notions, their exhaustive study sought to examine whether these games genuinely hinge on skill or if luck plays a dominant role.

Throughout their research, his team encountered compelling cases that solidified the argument that these sports do, in fact, require innate understanding and cognitive prowess. Beyond the technical skills involved in the games, the study also highlighted the development of softer skills such as social acumen, decision-making under pressure, and memory retention among players who consistently engaged in these games.

Gandhi added that the research "will debunk the yesteryear myth of the games being driven by luck and highlight the skill required in order to be successful."

Offering his perspective on the research, Deepak Dhayanithy, Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), who played a pivotal role in publishing an earlier report confirming poker as a game of skill, emphasised that in the realm of online card games like Poker and Rummy, the analysis leaves no room for doubt: skill, not chance, is the driving force behind sustained success.

The study's findings revealed non-linear trends in skill variables and winning percentages, refuting randomness and unequivocally pointing to players' expertise and patience. Dhayanithy stated that both online and offline, skill remains the predominant factor, reducing variability, similar to other sports such as cricket and golf, as players rise to the challenge. He added that this research enhances our understanding of cognitive abilities in the gaming domain.

The IIT study employed quantitative analysis using mathematical tools to determine whether long-term success in online Poker and Rummy can be attributed to skill. The research covered a substantial dataset of users who had played between 30 to 100 games in 2-player, 3-player, and 6-player formats. The findings indicated a positive correlation between skill variables and the number of games played, with a measured correlation coefficient of 0.904. This highlights the persistent influence of skill over chance in shaping outcomes over time.

Consistent win rates further underscore the notion that mastering the intricacies and strategies of these games can significantly enhance a player's performance. This strong correlation suggests that players who invest time and effort in understanding the nuances of the game have a better chance of maintaining a higher win rate.

Consequently, the study concluded that there is no discernible difference between online and offline versions of Rummy and Poker in terms of skill requirements. Furthermore, it firmly established that, in both rummy and poker, skill overwhelmingly prevails over chance when it comes to achieving success.