It's all about money and power

[Heavytravel]

Any time there's bipartisan support on an issue, you can bet that support is rooted in the two things both parties hold so dear to their collective hearts...Money and power. Yes, this is all about the lack of governmental ability to tax online wagering sites, and their inability to tax the income from our "ill gotten gains". With the ability to keep all of us in fear of the IRS and further enabled by the lack of term limits, these criminals have already absconded with our right to determine our own financial destiny. So who's going to be surprised when they criminalize our prerogatives as adults to gamble online? If gambling alone were the issue, there wouldn't be any brick and mortar casinos in this country. The only difference I can see is; if you make a significant hit in one of those, there's going to be a tax man there tapping you on the shoulder. They like that. Alot!

[Berge20]

If it was about the money, we'd regulate it...not ban it.

[Heavytravel]

That's my point. They cannot figure out how to regulate it.

[Gregg777]

[ QUOTE ]
If it was about the money, we'd regulate it...not ban it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's say they wake up and decide to regulate it instead, who is publicly on their side?

NOBODY

They are going the "ban" route because they have some conservative momentum with that angle. But when that doesn't work they will go for the regulation compromise.

It's all a bunch of smoke and mirrors to get to the same end result: they want their piece of the action.

[TNAchicago]

[ QUOTE ]
That's my point. They cannot figure out how to regulate it.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can still "regulate" an online business. eBay, Google, Yahoo, Amazon, etc are all regulated companies that do commerce on the web. Their consumers (like poker players) are all over the world. Profits generated by these companies are then federally taxed.

It's possible to regulate it, but it's a drastic change - and difficult to police (nobody on 2+2 is under 21, right? ~) And really opens up a floodgate that probably can't ever be closed (look at gaming on the state-level with lotteries/riverboates). There's no turning back.

MGM and Harrah's have constant lobbying efforts to legalize and expand gaming domestically, including online. Will it ever happen? Definitely not soon, but 10-20 years from now? Who knows.

[TruePoker CEO]

Agreed.

[TruePoker CEO]

"Definitely not soon, but 10-20 years from now? "

Make that 2 - 3 years, regardless of whether this bill passes ....

[DVaut1]

[ QUOTE ]
"Definitely not soon, but 10-20 years from now? "

Make that 2 - 3 years, regardless of whether this bill passes ....

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you guys (you guys = those with stakes in internet poker sites) are making preparations, or at least think that the big B&M corporations are a serious threat in the not-too-distant future.