This reminds me … Channel 11 ran an interesting story a few weeks ago about legally questionable poker in Dallas.* Though the hedline claims police are \”putting the heat on\” illegal poker games, reporter Kimberly Ball does more to ask the question, \”Why?\”
In a relatively bold statement, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price says it\’s time make poker rooms legal. And a deputy Dallas police chief informs us that he doesn\’t have the resources to put a stop to all the games. That\’s always the issue with poker, isn\’t it — should we spend money to try and stop it, or generate money by making a previously poo-pooed behavior legit?
Of course, not everyone in Texas has read enough Sklansky to understand why the above is really an easy decision. But the Channel 11 story does suggest a little more thought is being given to the math.
* Channel 11, you may recall, is the station that first snuck hidden cameras into a poker room a few years back, and got the exclusive ride-along with Dallas SWAT in November as they conducted the most vigorous gambling raids in Texas history.** (It was great for sweeps! Coincidentally, of course.) Less than a month later, Pokerati\’s dirty crush favorite award-winning, poker-playing, occasional poker-room-busting TV journalist married the chief of Dallas police.
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** More cases from these raids are scheduled for trial later this month. Though a few defendants have paid small fines, so far none have faced a judge or jury and been found guilty.