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Online Poker Needs a Public Option

Or at least more common-sense gambling care

by , Nov 1, 2009 | 5:07 pm

Comments (4)

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.


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4 Comments to “Online Poker Needs a Public Option”


  1. ChrisC     says:
    November 1st, 2009 at 9:19pm

    Great story. I wonder though, is there really going to be enough support when a bill actually hits the senate? I have no doubts the powers in congresss can get something done, but who in the senate is on the side of poker on this one?


  2. DanM     says:
    November 1st, 2009 at 9:32pm

    I think now it’s i the hands of the House. And it’s not so much how’ll folks will vote on the Floor(s) … it’s whether or not the bill can get to said floor. These sorts of articles help that cause, I believe.


  3. BJ Nemeth     says:
    November 2nd, 2009 at 1:57pm

    I read this article back when it was published, and forgot to forward it on to Pokerati at the time. Glad it found its way here anyway.


  4. DanM     says:
    November 2nd, 2009 at 3:26pm

    Yeah, I fell a little behind for a couple weeks, which of course begs the question about the value of a tree falling in the woods if it doesn’t get written up on Pokerati.