In case you missed yesterday’s online poker hearing that was held in Congress, here it is in full. The hearing was brisk, lasting less than two hours.

Now, nothing actually happened during the hearing. It was just all rhetoric, most of which has been repeated ad nauseam for months and months and months. However, there were some funny moments, like when Congressman Joe Barton said God was behind online poker and when a U.S. lawmaker essentially called Las Vegas Sands a hypocrite for its anti-online gaming position since it already offers mobile betting.

The hearing was also probably completely pointless, since it is very widely considered that there is an infinitesimally small chance of online poker being legalized, or banned, at the federal level. States like Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey have taken action on their own.

It also seems very unlikely the hearing will have any effect on state debates in 2014.

What the hearing was good for, other than a few laughs, was to highlight the uphill battle that will be waged in order for online poker to experience a true rebirth in the United States. Online poker play was largely eradicated in America thanks to Black Friday in April 2011.