Storm clouds loom over Okie casinos

The Department of Justice (aka The Feds, G-Men, the Heat) will propose national legislation today that would render illegal most of Oklahoma's 29,000 casino gambling machines.

That's "oops" No.1, according to the Daily Oklahoman.

In the details of its story, it is noted that while Gov. Brad Henry (God-fearing Baptist from Shawnee) had projected $40.5 million for the first year of upscale Class II gaming, state returns from the Indian casinos thus far are trickling in at the rate of about $1 million a month.

That's "oops" No.2.

At issue with the proposed regulatory change is the status of certain video poker machines, which would be reclassified as Class III gaming and thus off limits in states like Oklahoma. If the changes are enacted, that will permanently crush the bucket of gambling money that Gov. Henry had promised would take Oklahoma to a bright new future.

But the bucket already has a few holes. Seems Oklahoma gamblers are a mite skittish over the video poker games, perhaps because they've been playing bingo for so long. Said Phil Bowden of Norman, Okla., based Integrity Games:

"There's not a company I know of that didn't think that over a year's time, it would go to 90 percent compacted games. We thought video poker would be huge here. It basically comes down to, Oklahoma players aren't used to playing video poker."

Maybe we just don't trust someone else to hold our cards, especially the house.

As Kenny said, "You gotta know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em."