How could the poker sites let this happen?

[ackid]

Why dont all the major poker sites: Party, Stars, UB ect. just use some of the millions of dollars they make per day and form some kind of lobbying machine vs. the politians that threaten their very existance? It seems as if their not concerned in the least about this matter.

What do you guys think?

[HSB]

What makes you think they aren't?

[LinusKS]

Well, in the first place they're all foreign corporations. In the second, while they certainly make money, they're not even in the same league as, say, the pharmaceuticals, GM, or Dow Chemical. Yet even those (much bigger) companies don't always get what they want. In the third place, internet gambling has never been legal in the US. Why do you think they're located overseas in the first place?

[sleech]

Why YOU do something about it, call or write to your congressman.

[LouisCyphre]

The PokerPlayersAlliance is exactly the kind of lobbying organisation you are suggesting.

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
Why dont all the major poker sites: Party, Stars, UB ect. just use some of the millions of dollars they make per day and form some kind of lobbying machine vs. the politians that threaten their very existance? It seems as if their not concerned in the least about this matter.

What do you guys think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I suspect that the poker sites are throwing a fair amount of money behind this, but they're doing it in such a way that it isn't quite so transparent. For example, PartyGaming could work through the British consulate, Pacific Poker/888 could work through a free trade advocacy group, Poker Stars could work through a banker's association, and Ultimate Bet could earmark money to the American Gaming Assocaition. All of these conduits are likely to have a more favorable effect on the debate than an obscure, shady-seeming foreign corporation campaigning on its own behalf.

[Bilgefisher]

These guys are spending the money in other ways as well. All the advertising of online poker and big poker tournament winners that bought in for 40 dollar satallites has done more for legalizing online poker then a few lobbyist. Espn stated something like 50 million Americans play online, thats something that politicians can't ignore.

I think if they would have pushed these bills through 10 years ago, legislation would have already passed. Fact of the matter is, these sites would lose so much money if they lost the american player base, that they are definatly working behind the scenes on this one.