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As a rare thunderstorm raged over the Las Vegas valley, Emil Patel licked his lips in anticipation as a delectable "fish" sat down at his heads-up $25/$50 no-limit hold'em table. Just as Patel started to hit his stride, winning five buy-ins in half an hour, the power went out.

"What the f**k? WHAT THE F**K!" Patel screamed as the war room was plunged into total darkness.

It's time for people to lower their expectations about when licensed and regulated Internet poker will be available in the United States. It's not going to be this year. It probably won't be next year, but it will likely happen eventually -- at the government's pace.