That means residents of 47 states can't play them online for money. Chess is considered a game of skill, for example, while a slot machine is a game of chance.īut some are less clear cut: Despite rewarding skill, both poker and blackjack are considered games of chance. Meanwhile, smaller upstarts like Skillz are taking advantage of the larger skill-based gaming field.Īs of now, both gambling and betting apps have to tiptoe the divergent laws currently on the books. gambling industry wants to legalize online chance games across the country, and its lobbying efforts are gaining some momentum.