Growing Up in Public

In 2008, online poker reaches a milestone. It's been a decade since Planet Poker first opened its virtual tables, lifting the game to unheralded heights of participation and profile, and spawning a multibillion euro industry.

Much like its human equivalents, the 10-year-old industry is maturing and experiencing the tumult of emotional and physical growth.

Over the past year, it has had rules imposed upon it that it believes are unfair and stifling (the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), has occasionally indulged in behavioural regression (the Absolute Poker scandal), and has not yet fully grasped that the adult world can see through crude smoke-and-mirror acts (the Chris Vaughn and Sorel "Imper1um" Mizzi "account selling" controversy).

Yet, it has shown that it can tentatively strike out into the world with confidence and guile beyond its years (Annette Obrestad and Jeff Madsen World Series of Poker victories).

So, perspective is important. In every walk of life, from high finance and politics through sport and cultural pursuits, there are people who take shortcuts and people whose shortcomings impact upon others. Weakness is a universal trait, not one specific to poker.

As a young industry, online poker is not yet handicapped by inert forces. Its youthful dynamism must be channeled and developed both inside and outside the industry.

Operators must expedite transparency, enforce rules religiously, and deliver substantial punitive measures when appropriate. Players must look long and hard at their behavior and ask themselves if they are conducting themselves in a way that they would wish others to behave toward them. While governments must grasp the nettle of regulation (but not monopoly!) and protect their citizens, a serendipitous side effect will be tax streams that could build hospitals and schools, and improve the environment.

Online poker will undoubtedly have many more obstacles to overcome as it matures - everyone remembers his teenage years - but the folly of youth will give way to wisdom and strength in time.

Oh … and happy birthday, online poker. Here's to many more!

The Evolution Will be Televised
This month, eagle-eyed readers of the magazine will notice something of a theme - poker on television - with two articles in the form of a critical history of the televised game and a quirky behind-the-scenes look at the new series of the day of all poker TV shows, Late Night Poker.

Poker on TV has come a long way since the days of the one-hour World Series of Poker documentary, and with the Internet now facilitating the rapid spread of shows around the world, fans have more choices than ever, making for increasingly sophisticated expectations.

As you'll see from Karl Hutson's "TV or not TV?" article, it's time to recapture the drama of old, and from Warren Lush's Return of the Late Night Poker Legends, you'll discover a show that is doing just that.

Don't go changing that channel now! ♠