[Cactus Jack]

Let's face a simple truth. We're talking about Prohibition, again. It cannot work. It never has and never will. The govt cannot legislate morality. They cannot stop the flow of drugs into the US. They can't stop drug addicts from using drugs. They couldn't stop rumrunners and gin mills. And they can't stop people from online gambling, whether it's sportsbetting, poker or bingo.

Do you honestly think that if the Frank bill passes tomorrow, Full Tilt and Pokerstars will come into line? Suddenly we're going to be taxed and regulated and everything will be as it was? Both of those sites have flourished since the UIGEA passed and Party and others turned tail and ran away.

If Party et al become regulated and the other sites aren't, but are more profitable for players, do you think the players won't go where they get a better deal? Example: Party has no rakeback. Full Tilt gives 30% rakeback. Where will people play?

As we remember, when sites started rakeback, there were many of us who stopped playing on Party, which didn't have rakeback for a long time. We made more money, even if there were many more fish at Party. There were enough fish at the sites that gave rakeback to more than offset the easier games. We played on Empire and the other sites which did, until Party gave rakeback and that ended the other sites. People will still make the determination of where they do better.

If there are regulations passed which will allow people to deposit legally, what makes anyone think they won't be able to use the same system, or another system, to deposit at the unregulated sites? Again, people will go where they get the biggest bang for their bucks, and does anyone think a regulated site will have more to offer than an unregulated? Will the regulated sites be allowed to advertise and the unregulated will not? No. Free speech. The unregulated sites will advertise the same.

Banks are insured by the FDIC. If some bank starts up that gives people 300% better interest-rate and a free toaster, how many people will say, "I'm not going there because they aren't a part of the FDIC"?

It's only a matter of time before this all goes away and it's back to business as usual. The WTO decision may hasten it, as the govt at some point is going to have to surrender, sooner or later. They can't stop people from doing what they want to do. Laws only work if people are willing to obey them.

Many of you aren't old enough to remember when the speed limit laws were lowered to 55 maximum. NOBODY drove 55. They bought crude radar detectors and it started a CB craze. 10-4, good buddy. Eventually, the govt gave up trying to enforce a law that no one obeyed. The same thing is going to happen here. It's just a matter of time.

What's even more likely to happen, eventually, is the end of all government as we know it. The Internet is what has allowed the global economy to work. It won't matter anymore where your bank is located, when you can move money around at the click of a mouse. It won't matter where something is made, or shipped or whether the company has a brick and mortar location, as the money comes out of your account in Switzerland for a product manufactured in Sri Lanka and shipped out of a warehouse in Papua by a company owned in Tai Pei. We won't care. It will be delivered to our door. It's already happening.

Online gambling is really the vanguard of changes going on in all areas of the economy. The government is helpless against the changes. They can't regulate if people aren't willing to go along. Eventually, it is going to break down all borders and traditional national identities. This is the first of many attempts at stopping the inevitable tide.

Don't worry so much. It's all going to work out in its own time. Spend time working on your game for the next boom. lol

Carry on. As you were.

CJ