Does the WSOP Main Event outcome help online poker politically ?

[MegaFossil]

This could also be a big deal in terms of legitimizing poker in the eyes of Asian gamblers. There is so much room for growth over there, I can't imagine the positive impact on online poker if even a fraction of the Asian countries gain interest in Texas Hold 'em

[Akakapman]

An Asian Christian winning the main event is like the Greatest thing to happen to poker. Might help some of the Super religious groups see that poker players are good people and donate winnings to charity. Also if holdem would catch on in Asia the poker market would just be absolutely huge. Probably making the 2003 boom seem small compared to that.

[flight2q]

God, I pray ESPN makes him look good.

[sluggger5x]

As a Christian who plays and believes in the right to play poker, I would say Jerry Yang is the best we could possibly hope for. I can think of many Christians that I know who are basically anti-poker, who would raise an eyebrow to his reaction to being crowned champ. This is very very very good for poker.

[fun160]

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Since a Christian, Jerry Yang, can win invoking prayer during the game, is it really the Devil's game?

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I'm a Christian poker player and I've just got to get something off my chest. This video was completely embarrassing.

[fun160]

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I can think of many Christians that I know who are basically anti-poker...

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Oh, you know my wife?

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[sluggger5x]

[ QUOTE ]
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I can think of many Christians that I know who are basically anti-poker...

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Oh, you know my wife?

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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Lol. I feel your pain. Alot of Christians need to wake up and realize that there is nothing immoral about poker.

[TheMathProf]

Call me a pessimist, but I believe this is the worst possible result. Let me offer three reasons why:

(1) While there is some debate as to how useful the argument itself is, the argument that poker is a game of skill would have been strengthened tremendously if somebody more recognizable to the public at large could have taken down the main event. Scotty Nguyen would have been perfect, but I think getting a pro to take down the main event solidifies the argument that poker is a game of skill. Jerry doesn't do this. Jerry didn't look like a skillful player, he just looked like a player who the rest of the table didn't adapt to. (The one positive to this is that it probably has a fantastic chance of increasing the number of fish in the pond who will continuously throw money at the pot... if they are determined enough to get their money online.)

(2) Most of that $8 million may very well be out of the poker community for good. If we are really lucky, his 10% charitable contribution and other work to make his own life a little better will be all that gets drained from that prize fund.

(3) Most importantly, I don't think the argument that Jerry is a Christian, therefore other Christians will soften their view holds any water. I don't think many Christians will accept Jerry as a representative of their religion, and will instead denounce him.

When it comes to matters of religion, you can make as many rational and logical arguments as you like, but you're going to have a hard time overcoming their faith and belief structure. Those people who already were OK with gambling don't need their minds changed, and those who were not aren't going to be swayed by a Christian winning the Series. In fact, many of them won't even know about it.

But I think videos like the one that fun160 linked to are incredibly bad for poker. I'm significantly non-practicing as a Christian these days, and something just struck me as completely and totally wrong about the way Jerry would pray for particular cards. My wife, who is significantly more practicing, referred to it as the most blasphemous act she's seen in awhile (she doesn't watch the news thankfully [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ). I worry that many Christians will share a more cynical view of these actions, should they be made aware of them, and want to separate themselves further from this behavior.

The worst part is, there's almost no way that this is getting edited out, because it's a part of his story, and isn't that what ESPN is all about?

In my view, trying to sway the religious right into having a reasonable view regarding gambling is going to be a losing proposition. Trying to sway the moderates and the undecideds is going to be a significantly easier proposition. I think that these people are more largely swayed by arguments related to games of skill, or being allowed to spend our money as we choose, or avoiding nanny-state types of behavior.

Instead, what we got is a final table where people couldn't help but give away their chips recklessly, where people needed protecting from themselves almost and had no one to do it, and had two fanatical individuals (Yang and Khan) who clearly weren't among the norm.

Just my two cents.

[Ron Burgundy]

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I think getting a pro to take down the main event solidifies the argument that poker is a game of skill.

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People keep saying this, but it's just nonsense. That "evidence" would be so easy to refute.

Let's say you go in front of a congressional committee that's having a debate about whether or not poker is a game of skill.

Congressman Blowhard: So Mr. Poker Player, how can you prove that poker is a skill based game?

You: Well, a professional player won the main event at the WSOP this year, which is the biggest tournament of the year.

Congressman Blowhard: What about when Chris Moneymaker won? Most professionals said he was not a very good player when he won it.

You: Ummmm... lol donkaments?


There are sooo many better ways to make the skill argument.

[Ron Burgundy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Since a Christian, Jerry Yang, can win invoking prayer during the game, is it really the Devil's game?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a Christian poker player and I've just got to get something off my chest. This video was completely embarrassing.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's more embarrassing to you: praying for good cards, or politicians who use Christianity as a tool to control people's personal lives?