[AlienBoy]

[ QUOTE ]
What if you just cut out online poker?

If you went to the FBI recruiter or whoever and asked them, and they said that you should quit playing, except for private home games with friends, could you? If you couldn't, wouldn't that signify that either you lack sufficient willpower and could be a security risk, or that working for the FBI just isn't that important to you?

[/ QUOTE ]


Online poker is not illegal to play (except in some states like Washington).

Security clearances are based on your not having the following derogatory information, as specified in Title 10, part 710 of the Federal code:



§710.8 Criteria.

Derogatory information shall include, but is not limited to, information that the individual has:

(a) Committed, prepared or attempted to commit, or aided, abetted or conspired with another to commit or attempt to commit any act of sabotage, espionage, treason, terrorism, or sedition.

(b) Knowingly established or continued a sympathetic association with a saboteur, spy, terrorist, traitor, seditionist, anarchist, or revolutionist, espionage agent, or representative of a foreign nation whose interests are inimical to the interests of the United States, its territories or possessions, or with any person advocating the use of force or violence to overthrow the Government of the United States or any state or subdivision thereof by unconstitutional means.

(c) Knowingly held membership in or had a knowing affiliation with, or has knowingly taken action which evidences a sympathetic association with the intent of furthering the aims of, or adhering to, and actively participating in, any foreign or domestic organization, association, movement, group, or combination of persons which advocates or practices the commission of acts of force or violence to prevent others from exercising their rights under the Constitution or Laws of the United States or any state or subdivision thereof by unlawful means.

(d) Publicly or privately advocated, or participated in the activities of a group or organization, which has as its goal, revolution by force or violence to overthrow the Government of the United States or the alteration of the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means with the knowledge that it will further those goals.

(e) Parent(s), brother(s), sister(s), spouse, or offspring residing in a nation whose interests may be inimical to the interests of the United States.

(f) Deliberately misrepresented, falsified, or omitted significant information from a Personnel Security Questionnaire, a Questionnaire for Sensitive (or National Security) Positions, a personnel qualifications statement, a personnel security interview, written or oral statements made in response to official inquiry on a matter that is relevant to a determination regarding eligibility for DOE access authorization, or proceedings conducted pursuant to §710.20 through §710.31.

(g) Failed to protect classified matter, or safeguard special nuclear material; or violated or disregarded security or safeguards regulations to a degree which would be inconsistent with the national security; or disclosed classified information to a person unauthorized to receive such information; or violated or disregarded regulations, procedures, or guidelines pertaining to classified or sensitive information technology systems.

(h) An illness or mental condition of a nature which, in the opinion of a psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist, causes or may cause, a significant defect in judgment or reliability.

(i) Refused to testify before a Congressional Committee, Federal or state court, or Federal administrative body, regarding charges relevant to eligibility for DOE, or another Federal agency's access authorization.

(j) Been, or is, a user of alcohol habitually to excess, or has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a licensed clinical psychologist as alcohol dependent or as suffering from alcohol abuse.

(k) Trafficked in, sold, transferred, possessed, used, or experimented with a drug or other substance listed in the Schedule of Controlled Substances established pursuant to section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, etc.) except as prescribed or administered by a physician licensed to dispense drugs in the practice of medicine, or as otherwise authorized by Federal law.

(l) Engaged in any unusual conduct or is subject to any circumstances which tend to show that the individual is not honest, reliable, or trustworthy; or which furnishes reason to believe that the individual may be subject to pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress which may cause the individual to act contrary to the best interests of the national security. Such conduct or circumstances include, but are not limited to, criminal behavior, a pattern of financial irresponsibility, conflicting allegiances, or violation of any commitment or promise upon which DOE previously relied to favorably resolve an issue of access authorization eligibility.



I highlighted one thing: Financial responsibility. This means that you pay your debts, and that your debts are small. Here is where gambling *can* come in. I you gamble abusively, and have a problem that creates debt, it is the *problem* gambling that creates scrutiny.

If you are a 2+2er, and play poker *profitably*, then it is not an issue, so long as you play legally. the Supreme Court HAS RULED that poker is not gambling but a GAME OF SKILL. Regardless, you need to show *financial responsibility* here, not abstinence from poker.


Regards,

AB