Recently, there was a news item about the growing popularity of poker, both worldwide and in France. In addition to the illegal smoky back rooms known from movies, there are now more and more places where one can play poker in all legality, or so I’m told, presumably without the smoke. Usually, it must be said, the French government very much frowns upon gambling, unless, of course, said gambling is organized by and benefits the French government. France is currently at odds with the European Union as a result of laws which are considered too restrictive, and several European on-line gambling sites have filed suits. The laws clearly weren’t too restrictive for the owner of Quatroassi (“Four Aces”); surely the name cannot be a coincidence...