Poker in America is a funny thing. In some states there casinos where you can legally gamble on a myriad of games. Provided you’re 21 and able to prove it, you can walk into any of these establishments and legally place your wager on most any game of chance. Maybe you love the slots. Maybe you can’t get enough of the craps table. One of my friends was a great fan of the baccarat table. Casinos offer us the thrill of winning big while at the same time the possibility (and in all reality, the likelihood) of the despair of losing. However, in most of these same states which allow casinos or established gambling establishments it is against the law to play the same games off these premises. It seems a little hypocritical to me. Okay scratch that, it seems very hypocritical to me. For whatever reason the lawmakers in our country have decided the only place that we’re allowed to play games of chance is in a casino. Of course, this is a huge debate throughout the gambling world, and there are good points on both sides of the fence. I would be a fool to think that I could sum up the entire debate or even one side of the debate in a short rambling article based on my feelings about the subject.

I’m a poker player. Poker, in any of its many forms is my game of chance. If I’m going to walking into a casino and gamble my hard earned money in hopes of coming out ahead, I’m going to be playing poker. Why am I going to be playing poker? The answer is fairly simple. It gives me the best chance of coming out ahead in the long term. You see, the way I look at poker is the way I assume that casino owners look at slot machines. It all boils down to the numbers. When you walk into a casino and start to look around all the slot machines and their various rows and configurations and all the jackpots and progressive jackpots you may also spy on the wall a little sign which read something to the effect of “this machine pays out 98.3%”. You see the casino owners know that each and every time someone pushes the button or pulls the lever (if you can still find a slot machine that has a lever) they make 1.7%. That’s their advantage. That’s why so many casinos start putting in so many more slot machines. Because they know each time someone plays a slot machine game, regardless of all the jackpots that are won and the money that is paid out, they are making 1.7%. That’s how I view poker. I tried to make myself a slot machine. Every time someone sits down at the table and plays a hand with me, win or lose, I’m making money in the long term. Of course, this is overly simplified scenario. For me to guarantee I’m making money in the long term I must be making good decisions, every time I have a decision to make. If I’m able to make a good decision every time I’m faced with one then I will have what is considered a positive expectation. Slot machines, in the scenario we’ve been discussing, would have a positive expectation of 1.7% each time the lever is pulled for the button is pushed. Just like me playing poker; I have a positive expectation each time I make a correct decision. I positive expectation may not be as set in stone as it is for the slot machines. I can’t tell you that I’m making a certain percent positive expectation on each hand, but I can tell you that over time I do indeed have one. If you keep good records being you will be able to see what your positive expectation tends to be based on winnings, correct decisions, and number of hands played. This is basically my argument as to poker being a game of chance, but being a long-term winning poker player has no chance involved.

By now you’re probably asking yourself “What does this have to do with casinos?” Well I’m getting there in a roundabout sort of way. You see one of the main arguments about gambling is that people are getting something for nothing or losing their hard-earned money gambling it away. Now there is a degree of truth to this, but I believe that adults should be able to make their own decisions about what they want to do with their money.

Not all of us live near one of these is established gambling facilities. In fact, I live in the middle of nowhere Texas and the nearest casino that I can walk into and earn a living is over six hours away. I have to go to the state of Oklahoma or Louisiana to make money. As a professional poker player it is highly unfair to say that I can apply my trade anywhere but a few casinos dotting the landscape. Yes I know, law is not always about being fair. I accept that. Anytime anyone asks me I will give my opinion. Shoot, I’m giving my opinion now no one’s asking me.

So what are the opportunities for professional poker players? It would appear that for those of us who don’t either live in Las Vegas or near a casino we must rely on the online casinos. It’s not my favorite way to make a living. I prefer the felt and the atmosphere of a brick-and-mortar card game over the solitude of my computer and gambling software. If you give me my choice I’ll always go play a live game instead of playing cards online. Unfortunately that’s not always an option for me, and thousands of other poker players in America. Sure there are lots of illegal games that we can play in, but honestly we would rather have the risk at the table then the risk of going to jail. Of course, we can argue how enforceable or unenforceable any of these laws are, but that’s not really the point. Internet gambling is the only choice for many of us. It provides a number of opportunities and conveniences that brick-and-mortar casinos can’t. For instance, you can only play one poker game on one table at a time in a brick-and-mortar casino. Online you can play many tables (what is known as multi-tabling) and increase your hourly rate. There is always a game waiting for you, and you don’t have to wait for the limit for the table of your choice to open up because there is always a table at your chosen limit ready and waiting for you. I’m not saying that online gambling does not have its perks because it clearly does. What I am saying is that I would prefer to have a choice in the matter.

It saddens me to know the form of poker which Doyle Brunson called “The Cadillac of Poker” is against the law to be played in the state from which it gets its name. No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em is against the law in Texas. I guess those of us in Texas will have to be playing Texas Hold ‘Em online.