Nothing Like Enjoying Legal Poker

Poker, especially the poker played in Vegas, has become a world popular card game. Yet there seems to be a worldwide crackdown on it along with other gambling games. But notwithstanding the global onslaught, poker is still a favorite past time the world over, especially legal poker.

To be sure, governments only intend to clean up illegal poker and other amusements of the abusive nature of gambling. Many people often fall victim to the greed of unlawful gambling establishments out to squeeze money from unsuspecting people---especially those who just want to leisurely spend time playing an exciting game of poker. Reading their laws on poker, these governments only intend to protect their constituency.

Let's not over react and think that authorities are out to take good old poker away from us. Poker is just being regulated to be a more enjoyable card game that builds up rather than tears down because of addiction. How many lives have been ruined by addictive vices that turn good sports into destructive gambling. Even good sports games like basketball and football can turn into monsters when used for abusive gambling.

To play it safe, make sure to play legal poker. Check with the law of a state or country before engaging in it. In most places, home or domestic poker is tolerated. But even home poker has laws it must abide with. Canada, for one, has strict definitions about what a home poker is. Often, it has to do with where money goes and how much. After all, take betting away and poker becomes safe and legal almost any place---though not as exciting. So we have to watch the bets.

Most countries want poker bets strictly regulated to avoid addiction. Basically, bets should be laid against co-players, not establishments or their representatives, the dealers. No profit of any amount and in any form should accrue from the operation of any poker session---and no one individual or owner should benefit from any such profit. If any profit be made, such should go to a cause or community project.

But money aside, poker is still enjoyable. The way poker stimulates thinking is reward enough for anyone who puts effort into it. And the best part of it is, it's trouble free. No law is against enjoying poker in private.

And think about it---poker is designed to be enjoyed. It was not meant to be a livelihood but a hobby. As long as we keep it that, we enjoy legal poker.