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The City of Las Vegas, Nevada is in talks with a real estate development company to build a 20,000 seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas wants this arena built to try to lure a NBA or NHL team to the city. There has been talk in years past of the Sacramento Kings moving to Las Vegas to try to lure in big spenders in the Las Vegas market. The owners of the Kings, the Maloof family, already own two casinos in Las Vegas and an NBA team there would not hurt business. If built this arena could host an NBA or NHL team and multiple shows and concerts a month. It would not be a waste for the city of Las Vegas, already known as one of the "Entertainment Capitals of the World."

I believe that if the NBA, which already has a gambling problem with the referees point shaving scandal, will not hold up in Las Vegas. Las Vegas allows sports betting in its multiple casinos and this is not a good image for David Stern and the NBA. They will be thought of as a crooked league who just wants to make as much money as possible.

The other side of this story is the potential loss to Sacramento, or another NBA or NHL city. If the Kings leave Sacramento there will be no "Big 4" team in that city and their arena will lose their anchor tenant. They will lose money and the owners will rip the hearts out of their many fans. I believe that this new arena in Las Vegas is not good news for Sacramento. However, it has the possibility of making so much money for the city and business people of Las Vegas.

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The game of poker has been played for centuries.  Each year about 50 million Americans partake in the game of poker and as poker becomes more and more popular on the internet, the popularity of the game is increasing.  Statistics show that about 70 million standard decks of playing cards are sold every year. This also shows a growing amount of interest in the game as a pastime and gambling endeavor.  
    The origin of poker is highly debated.  However, playing cards were most likely invented in China in 1120 AD.  And it is theorized that the use of four suits is of French origin and symbolizes the four classes of men.  Another interesting fact is that President Richard Nixon used a large sum of money that he won in poker to fund his campaign for congress.
    There are a variety of ways to play poker but it is important to make sure that your use of the game is legal.  For instance, it is illegal to open a card room without a license.  However, if you wish to play poker without the element of gambling, this is not illegal.  These days the use of online poker is extremely controversial and depending on where you are located it can be legal or illegal.
    On October 13, 2006 the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was enacted.  Sections of this law ban and criminalize those who accept funds from betters by operators of most online gambling websites.  This act affects a number of operators such as, (1) those engaged in the business of betting/wagering (2) banks and credit card companies that process financial transactions with online casinos (3) knowingly accepting proceeds from credit cards, electronic fund transfers and checks (4) in connection with the participation of a better (5) Unlawful internet gambling which is any online gambling that violates any other federal or state anti-gambling law.
    Not only is there controversy surrounding where you can play but there is also a dilemma as to whether or not poker should be considered a sport.  However if you look at the exact definition of a sport it states, "A sport is an active pastime; diversion; recreation."  Poker applies to all of these facets.  As well poker is broad casted on sport networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports Network.  Finally, and possibly most important, the point of sports and of poker is to have fun and to win.
    Poker can be seen on TV just about everyday on channels such as ESPN, Fox Sports Network, the Game show Network and the Travel Channel.  In fact ESPN paid Harrah's Entertainment 20 million dollars in 2005 to retain the TV rights to the World Series of Poker for the next 2 years.  The Travel Channel bought the U.S. TV rights to the World Poker Tournament in 2006 for a total of three seasons.  They are going to pay $45,000 for each individual 2-hour episode.  Those interesting in watching poker on TV have a variety of shows to choose from as well.  Some of these include, World Series of Poker, High Stakes Poker, Learn from the Poker Pros, U.S. Poker Championship, World Poker Tour and many others.