"As The Oklahoman's Tony Thornton reported this week, the brisk business has some casinos knocking out walls in order to make room for more card tables. State officials expect that even if the current poker buzz begins to ebb, the new electronic gaming machines and video poker will help pick up the slack, since they're more profitable than cards.

But Thornton's story noted that the new games available at casinos have attracted new gamblers, and that bears watching. He mentioned one couple who recently spent four hours in a casino's poker room one day -- their fifth visit in two weeks. Just last week, the former deputy treasurer in Payne County pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from the agency during a span of nearly two years. She told investigators she used the money to gamble. The National Council on Problem Gambling receives an average of 200 calls per month from Oklahomans looking for help for their problem gambling."

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In the cards: Games a hit, but not everyone wins (The Oklahoman 5/11)
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