Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
Last week, the Department of Justice cracked down hard on online poker. Why? The Washington Examiner's Tim Carney shows that it was at least partly done to protect government-enforced monopolies like Harrahs (owned by Caesars) and the tribal casinos.
When the casinos are looking for a friend in Washington, the obvious go-to-guy is Harry Reid, whose re-election they supported in extraordinary ways. (Remember this: "Waking up to the defeat of Harry Reid Nov. 3 will be devastating for our industry’s future.") After the casino shuttle busses ran, and Reid won reelection, he started pushing legislation to legalize online poker for only:
In other words, Reid wanted to give his friends a monopoly. Clearing out the competition first sure helps. Don't be surprised to see Reid's bill move soon, and if it passes, the big casinos dominate the industry.
It's the old Baptists and bootleggers thing. Or Mormons and bootleggers. Actually, Harry Reid is just the rent-seeking bootlegger for this illustration.
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Jun '10
Re: Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
Gotta love the "fair games to consumers" schtick. Anybody who knows anything about probability knows there ain't no such thing as a "fair" game, because the odds are always set in favour of the house. So here's Las Vegas speak translated:
"I won." Means the speaker is a liar.
"I won a little." Means the speaker broke even.
"I broke even." Means the speaker lost his shirt.
"I lost a coupla hun." Means the speaker maxed out his credit cards.
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Means no one talks about what they lost to anyone except the credit and marriage counselors.
Edited on Apr 21, 2011 at 8:49amAug '10
Re: Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
One set of gambling interests using the state to roadblock another set of gambling interests was also at the core of the Abramoff scandal. (That's why much of the investigation was done by congressional Indian committees).
Re: Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
My extremely liberal friend at the local public radio station announced to me this week that he's joining the Tea Party. His issue? Internet poker! He loves it, and doesn't know why the government insists on "protecting" him from it.
Isn't that what the government does with every aspect of your life? I asked.
That's why I'm joining the Tea Party, he said.
Mar '11
Re: Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
Rob;
Are you still on the Levaquin? Tea partier recruits found in a west coast NPR station, you must be nearing delirium.
Feb '11
Re: Poker, Baptists And Bootleggers
Lots of bootleggers were Baptists. Bootleg Friday and Saturday night, church on Sunday morning, and racing Sunday afternoon. That's how NASCAR was born.