Online Poker Needs a Public Option

In case you missed it … an LA Times business columnist (different than the guy who did the Matt Savage piece) brought \”our issue\”â„¢ to the non-poker fore the week before last:

Calling America\’s bluff on Internet gambling
The U.S. approach to Internet gambling, which is legal in much of the rest of the world, is absurd. The activity is unstoppable, so let\’s regulate it.

Writer Michael Hiltzik lays it out pretty good — right down to who has what interest in the billions of dollars at stake, the historic political principals in play, and the impracticalities associated with the unregulated, semi-legal status quo. Gotta like the quasi-wholesome, subconscious message the picture sends, too — seeing online poker positioned with Starbucks (manageable addiction) and golf balls (recreational pursuit).

While \”our issue\” hasn\’t fully arrived until Glenn Beck starts chalking up a connection between Ace-Queen and Al Qaeda … this kinda ink does help the poker industry\’s efforts to win hearts and minds of Americans who will give five seconds of thought to the matter or more revenue via safer+better online gambling/poker.