On the future of online poker

By Mark Lasser

A quick note on the future of online poker: as things stand right now, individual states are writing legislation to make online poker legal on a state level pending a federal decision that would allow this to be regulated on a state-by-state level.

Nevada is the first state to do this. While they recognize the need to develop tight internal controls and technology standards, it’s looking now like a matter of time before we see legal online poker in the United States.

One of the first companies ready to offer this is the South Point Casino, a great local casino just south of the Las Vegas Strip. They have a free version you can play today and there’s much to like about it. In fact, even though it’s free, you can win cash and prizes and even tournament entries without putting up a penny.

The software is available at www.southpointpoker.com and it’s certainly worth trying out. Heck, if you’re going to play for free, why not have the potential for a little cash?

I’ve been using the software for a few weeks and haven’t cashed yet, as the fields tend to be large and loose. The game-playing interface is good and intuitive. You can access hand histories, but not very quickly, and you cannot take notes on other players. You’ll have to decide for yourself if this is good or bad. I’ll be interested to see if these features are introduced when a real money version is unveiled. The case for the typical Full Tilt and Poker Stars interfaces is that you can track other players and have more information about them. The downside is the ability to have third-party analysis software that can give pros some huge advantages over casual players.

Steve is one of my regular readers that I get feedback from. He makes some good points about concerns for regulatory oversight and the protection of players from fraud and cheaters. In version 1 of online poker, there were some well-known cases of cheating, and websites used algorithms to detect cheating. These sort of worked, but were imperfect. So, I agree that more needs to be done in version 2.

The bigger problem he raises is collusion, which I agree is more of a problem online than live. To be fair, it does occur live as well. The main difference is that colluding online is as easy as being on the phone or using instant messenger, while live, one has to develop nonverbal signals like chip stacking and tapping. The only way I can see to reduce online colluding is to speed up the decision making clock and to limit multi-table play. Online players won’t like this. In cash games online, the software could reassign tables every five minutes to keep colluders apart. This too might be unpopular, yet a tradeoff for honest play. Just a few ideas and I know they’re very imperfect.

A last note on South Point. In addition to their free software, the actual casino is one of my Vegas favorites. Very favorable table rules and pay tables for video poker. Good comps, Affordable dining with great graveyard specials like a 7-ounce NY strip steak, two eggs, hash browns, toast and jelly for $3.95.

I also received mail today from a player asking about the best places for a novice to gain experience here in Colorado. Most of the lower stakes games will be found in Central City. The card room at the Century is very welcoming to novice players and often has low stakes. In Black Hawk, you could check out the Lodge, as well as the Isle, which has some low-key, low buy-in tournaments on weekdays starting at 10 a.m.

Mark B. Lasser is Denver writer and international poker player. He regularly plays in Colorado, Arizona, California, Missouri and Nevada. Readers can send questions and comments to him at ColoradoPokerMark@comcast.net.