Harvard Professor Endorses Poker

Rep. Barney Frank (MA-D) has met with Harvard professor of Law Charles R. Nesson this week and has even received his endorsement of Frank's bill to legalize online gambling once again. Frank's bill, also known on its full title as the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, or IGREA, is the response that enjoys the widest support on Capitol Hill to the US ban on online gabling.

Professor Nesson and frank have met on Monday in Washington, as part of the week's events that had poker enthusiasts lobby for regulating the industry. Nesson, as well as many others who attended similar meetings and events, believes the bill is a good one, but thinks its chances to pass are slim.

Nesson, who founded Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society and of the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society, and many others, focus their efforts on the game of poker.

The esteemed cyberspace specialist said: "I'm in support of [the bill], but I'm dubious about its likelihood of passage." He added though that he is supports "an initiative that would recognize the legality of tournament poker."

Such a limited bill would present poker as a game of skill and strategy. Furthermore, Nesson suggests the game should be taught to kids, in formal education programs. Such educational programs accompany the legal discussions and initiatives of the organization Nesson has founded. All together, he believes, will help the game be viewed as a "positive, educational game."

More specifically, teaching poker strategy would help make the game seem legit in the eyes of people and help such a law that will allow poker games online pass more easily.