tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1591877594839783131.post-58436358006163452082008-03-13T21:46:00.006-03:002008-03-13T22:17:10.363-03:00<span style="color:#000000;">I don't think that it comes to a shock to anyone that Texas Hold 'Em, has become one of the most popular forms of gambling in 2007 and 2008. It wasn't until the poker craze began in 2005 after Chris Moneymaker (yes that's his real name) won the World Series of Poker (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WSOP</span>) that Canadian Casinos began offering this variation of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">five</span> card poker.<br /><br />Since the 2005 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WSOP</span>, tournament prize pools in main events have become the new, and often innovative way, to become North America's quickest and newest millionaire. I say innovative because the world of online gaming offers a chance to win close to 1 million dollars every Sunday for as little as 26 bucks. It's hard to turn the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">channels</span> on television without seeing a poker game these days. Good for the Industry? Yes. Good for the poker enthusiast? Absolutely. Good for the gambler? Probably not.<br /><br />I have heard the argument that poker isn't the same as putting money into a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">VLT</span> since you aren't sitting in front of a video screen for hours and hours putting countless $20 bills inside and hoping to score big. Rather, poker is a social game where you sit around a table with friends, sometimes for hours, and risk as little as $5, $10 or $20 bucks in tournament style play. Is this really comparing apples to oranges or are they both the same?<br /><br />It's no secret that our government has put out a call for any interested company that meets specific requirement to bid on the ability to build a Casino in New Brunswick. No tax dollars will be spent to assist in its development. The only thing you get from Government is the approval to build and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">license</span> to operate. Our province will be one of the last in Canada to allow legalized table games into it's jurisdiction and offer a responsible venue for those who wish to play in a controlled atmosphere.<br /><br />If a province is going to allow gaming than it should offer a reliable form of entertainment for those who wish to "roll the dice" with their money in hopes of hitting the Jackpot. I am excited for this project knowing that our Government has kept the principles of responsible gaming in mind.<br /><br />More to come on this topic, but in the meantime I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject. Thanks!<br /><br />T.J.</span>T.J. Burkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15240195460226890843noreply@blogger.com