Yeah, I know, people tell me that they’re against online gambling because they want to protect me from my uncontrollable need to gamble because apparently online gambling is so addictive, it’s amazing I can stop long enough to write this blog post. And I’m spending money I can’t afford to lose because these kind people apparently have access to my bank account. Look, all money you spend on “entertainment” is optional money that could be spent elsewhere. How much would you save if you dropped your cable TV subscription? Aren’t you spending money you can’t afford to lose for cable TV shows that run when you aren’t even in the house? I may watch a couple of hours of TV a day. But cable doesn’t give a discount for that. But online casinos don’t take my money when I’m NOT playing on them. Besides, I have a basic philosophical problem with people trying to control what I do. Next they’ll be insisting that I drink decaf!

But let’s look at a little online gambling legislation debate coming out of California, where I think there might be a state tax on breathing. The Commerce Casino in California is the world’s largest real world poker room. But the casino refuses to support federal gambling legislation that would allow for legal online gambling. Because they want to protect me. Nah, because they want state legislation instead of federal legislation. That way the Commerce Casino can become the online poker room for California players. If you live in California, you’ll only be able to play on California casinos and only against California players. Who does this protect? The casino. Not the player. Don’t let them fool you.

Coffee Quote: Decaffeinated coffee is the devil’s blend.  Author Unknown

Now, let me start this off by saying that I like Las Vegas. It’s a great city that provides wonderful vacation experiences for adults. And where we don’t have to worry about hoping the kids will like it. Frankly, Las Vegas lets us indulge in a little adult greed now and then and we need that. Because then we can go back to work and kids and school drop offs without going insane.

But I also enjoy online gambling. Because it’s convenient. All I do is turn on my computer and it’s right there. I don’t see online gambling and a trip to Las Vegas as the same thing. Just like watching the Travel Channel isn’t really the same as going to Disney World. But casinos in Nevada have this fear that if we can all gamble online, we’ll stop visiting them all together. (Disney meanwhile just buys lots of ad space on the Travel Channel.)

But Nevada casinos are worried because Nevada senate leader Harry Reid has said he’s in favor of Barney Frank’s gambling bill HR 2267 (Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, how’s that for a name). Now Reid has said that he’s only in favor of the bill as far as legislating online poker. Online poker rooms are just a tad less controversial in Las Vegas since the casinos only make a profit on the “rake” (a percentage of the pot) rather than on a house edge. A poker game takes up more space and time than other games and just aren’t as profitable as say a floor filled with slot machines. Also, there is debate that poker is more a game of skill than luck and therefore doesn’t fall under the same gambling rules as slots.

But none of this is reassuring Nevada casinos who see any form of online gambling as a way to open the door for full fledge online gambling. But supporting the desires of the brick and mortar casinos means offering fewer choices to the American public. Who, frankly, are already gambling at online casinos. Which no one in Vegas or Washington seems to be able to figure out.

Coffee Quote: I’d stop drinking coffee, but I’m no quitter.  ~Author Unknown