Poker in the News

This is yet another article commenting on the popularity of Texas Hold'em. The focus is on the rising popularity among teenagers, and subsequent bans of card-playing at high-schools around the country.

There is an interesting quote which is just ridiculous though:
"It's fun. It's exciting. It's glamorized on TV and in the media in a way that other addictions are not," said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "There's the impression that through skill, you can beat the odds. But randomness is always going to have a bigger factor in determining the outcome than your skill. And unfortunately, that's not the message these kids get."

Keith Whyte needs to learn a little more about poker. His statement is of course true when applied to other "gambling" games-- such as craps or roulette or anything else that you play against the house. But poker isn't about "beating the odds". Poker is about playing the odds, and short-term randomness is always going to eventually average out to expected probabilities.

I'm becoming a little afraid that poker's popularity has been too sudden, and these news stories talking about the popularity of poker with high school students, people quitting their jobs to play poker full-time, etc., is laying the foundation for a public backlash.
Poker grabs hold of teens - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - November 29, 2004