Poker champion comes up a winner in high stakes showdown with CRA

Duhamel's poker activities were not sufficiently commercial to constitute a source of income for business for the purposes of the Act. The court went through a lengthy review of his training, poker skills, his future career path, profits and losses from poker over the years and expert testimony. The judge concluded that Duhamels’s poker gaming activities weren't carried on in a sufficiently business-like manner to be considered a business income. His net earnings from the poker for years under review should not be taxable. Jamie Golombek, CPA, CA, is the Managing Director, Tax & Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto.