atlantic city

ATLANTIC CITY - Perhaps the best thing about playing electronic poker, Marc Zahra said wryly, is that you don't have to tip the dealer.

With the live game of poker exploding in popularity across the country, it seemed only a matter of time before an automated version would appear in Atlantic City to satisfy the high-tech-crazed generation of younger gamblers.

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino has become the first gaming hall in town to introduce electronic poker tables. They mimic the live version of the game - except that they don't have human beings dealing the cards.

According to Zahra and his girlfriend, Rachel Stalcoskie, who needs human dealers when a machine will do just fine?