Whenever the topic of a federal online gaming bill is broached the conversation inevitably shifts towards talk of a poker carveout, a prohibition of online gaming with an exemption for online poker.

This is a rallying cry for poker players who are quick to differentiate the game they love with regular old gambling, saying things like, “Forget all this online slots and online blackjack talk, we should be pushing for a poker carveout,” or, “Who cares if people can’t play slots, poker is different, it’s a game of skill.”

On its face it certainly seems like a convenient compromise. And it’s a compromise that virtually every poker player (including myself) would agree to in a heartbeat if it was offered. But it hasn’t been offered, and there are several problems with a poker-only approach that make it an unviable option.

Starting with the simple fact that…