Poker and Marijuana

I found this article on Casino Gambling about how actor Steve Martin told David Letterman in a recent interview about how he one night took an Ambien and played poker for money on the Internet. Steve Martin

admitted that he enjoyed the game of poker, but claimed that he is no longer playing when it became illegal.

This immediately reminded me of Clinton informing everybody that he tried marijuana once but that he did not inhale. I hope that Michael Phelps
doesn't get into any more trouble for admitting that he tried marijuana.

The only problem with Steve's comment is that online poker is not illegal in the US. His perception is shared by many people, even though it is incorrect. The Poker Players Alliance has been fighting for years to have poker exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The law prohibits all forms of gambling online in games of chance. Poker is not a game of chance, poker is a game of skill and therefore is not covered by UIGEA rules.

Judges in both Colorado and Pennsylvania have ruled that the game of poker is one of skill. The judges each threw out charges against people who were being tried for illegal gambling involving poker. The judges' rulings have solidified poker players beliefs and have caused an increase in customers sign ups at popular online poker sites.

While Martin said in the interview that he would never again take Ambien, the good news for him is that if wants to take up Internet poker in the future, he can do so without the worry of doing anything illegal.


We'll see what I fetch next time.....
Pack Leader