AimlesslyChasingAmy

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway.
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin’ our way.
And our way
Is on the road again.
-Willie Nelson

I’m not on the road, but I suspect more poker players will be these days.  With the tenuous state of online poker, more folks will be hitting the highway to post their blinds.  But for Leigh and Brian, that has been their way for awhile now.  I got to meet up with them and their 1963 Airstream in Vegas.  I’m happy to report that Leigh’s new site The Poker Atlas is up and running.  This is the ultimate B&M poker tool.  It gives fun and insightful room reviews, tournament schedules - and best of all a mapping feature.  If you’re on a business trip and want to figure out what your best B&M poker options are, this is the nuts. 

I noticed that Leigh and Brian had cruised into Cities of Gold.  A few years ago I was holed up in Taos, working on my dissertation.  As an incentive, for every 20 pages I wrote, I would reward myself with a poker outing.  Cities of Gold was the closest casino -  a harrowing drive down dark mountain roads.  I was actually relieved they didn’t serve alcohol as I was never sure, even when stone cold sober, I was going to make it back to my mountain retreat alive.  But I have nothing but good memories of the room.  They had some nice little “money added” tournies and I met some great folks there.

Cities of Gold is an Indian casino.  And I’m beginning to think that, as written, the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act has introduced some interesting opportunities for Indian reservations and Indian casinos.  There is a specific exclusion for Indian lands in the act.  Playing online poker from and to a res is definitely legal.  I know that there are some sites that host their servers on Indian land.  But what I’m thinking is that a couple of enterprising tribes should get skins; processing the financial stuff on location.  The rest of the Indian nation could open up WiFi cafes, poker youth hostels, and condos (for the high stakes players).  These indirect revenue streams would be great for reservations that haven’t yet been able to jump through all the hoops (and kickbacks) to get casinos of their own. 

The law also defers to state laws.  Having trouble with your state economy?  Consider becoming the mecca of online gaming.  Legalize it.  Tax it.  See increases in beer and pizza sales in your state.  Imagine what legalizing online gaming could do for the likes of West Virginia or Louisiana. 

Just a thought…