poker is in no way immune to the same scrutiny as sportsbetting.
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2005/07/new-york-poker-players-protest-raid.htm
also remember this
http://www.justthechips.com/archives/001089.php
the argument that sportsbetting somehow taints what you call "pure" poker is without much merit.
on the local level you'll find law enforcement going after poker purveyers with the same jubilance as with bookies
I tend to agree with the author