With Online Poker, Fairness Got Lost in the Shuffle

Poker has become increasingly popular in the U.S. It has proliferated in casinos, neighborhood games, online and on the television sets in our homes. Perhaps its popularity can best be tracked by the number of entrants into the World Series of Poker held every year in Las Vegas. This year the tournament attracted 6,358 entrants, with a prize pool totaling $59,784,954. First place took home $8,250,000.

Popularity is one thing, but should poker be legal on our computers?

I spoke to Howard "Professor" Lederer, a well-known poker professional. Lederer notes that regular poker is already legal in many places in the U.S., including California and Nevada. Online poker would be legal in those places if not for the UIGEA.

Lederer sees benefits from online poker. "Licensing and regulation could generate billions of dollars in revenues for state and federal governments," he said. "This is an industry asking to be regulated."

Furthermore, Lederar says, "It's a personal privacy issue. Online poker takes place in the sanctity of your home over the Internet. It doesn't hurt anyone, and the Frank bill actually helps to address gambling addiction."

A recent study in Britain has shown that the increase in online gambling hasn't led to an increase in gambling addiction. In fact, it surprises many that the prevalence of gambling problems remains so low. Despite the influx of new online opportunities, the rate of gambling addictions has stayed at 0.6% in Britain. This rate is lower than most other so-called social ills.