Legalizing Poker Takes Care of Mess

January 29, 2009

If you legalize poker, say supporters, you will get rid of a whole seedy underground that exists solely because poker is currently illegal. Poker supporters say that illegal games only exist because it is currently illegal, and that if they make poker legal it will eliminate the whole underground scene – which is where the real crimes are committed.

Right now the ability to play poker is limited to who you know that is willing to do illegal things to play. Poker supporters say that they are encouraging them to break the law because they want to play – and with a recent Pennsylvania ruling poker is a game of skill not chance – so it should be legal. They say that especially in places like Dallas, there is a high instance of illegal poker games going on and crime is thriving.

Police have taken to raiding as many of these illegal poker joints as they can, and those that are caught are prosecuted. Some of the biggest poker rooms across the city can easily bring in $3,000 a night – which makes them a target for robbers. Thus the illegality of poker is creating criminals in those that play the game, and ensuring other criminals that they have a steady income flow.

Those in support of poker are trying to get the state to make it legal and are endorsing legislation to make it so. They say that not only would it clean up the streets to make poker legal, but it would bring in much needed revenue as well.