When US bans online poker - the european thread

[Baulucky]

When they pass the bill, many Poker sites may just keep players funds, just because they can.

[Sciolist]

I'm surprised too. There's a lot of PartyPoker... But so it goes. I'd last 5 minutes in marketing.

[BlueSmurf]

5 years in prison for playing $1/$2 hold'em. Yeah, that sounds fair. I mean, it's just such a brutal, merciless crime. And, to paraphrase "The Simpson's", for heaven's sake, won't someone think of the children!

[Spee]

[ QUOTE ]
I understand there's a real danger that online poker will become illegal in the US sometime this year.

[/ QUOTE ]

No need to get yer knickers in a twist.

Online gambling is already illegal in the US. Problem is, the current law is unenforceable, just as any new law would be. Do the math. Besides all the current players, there are hundreds or thousands of ISPs. The government would have to force all these companies to start blocking access to sites. The First Amendment crowd will have a field day with that.

And even if they do, then so what? The offshore sites just set up some proxies and route all their traffic through those proxies, etc., etc., etc.

Bottom line is that only two groups are bent out of shape over this: the big B&M casinos and the tax man. The big B&M's are making money hand over fist anyway, so no one is going to lose any sleep with them.

The tax man is another story. They are greedy pigs like everyone else and they want their cut. Look for this to be the middle ground that everyone usually looks for in situations like these. Once the IRS is getting their share, then the Feds aren't going to care anymore.

This is all about money, not about what is and isn't illegal.

[Synergistic Explosions]

I think our worries are over. Halliburton just set up a new online poker site called OilPoker.com.

Look for Bush to legalize online poker on Monday.

On a sidenote, Cheney is going quail hunting with Kyl on Monday also.

[ginko]

[ QUOTE ]
Dear fellow European 2+2'ers

I understand there's a real danger that online poker will become illegal in the US sometime this year. This is just horrible, of course. I will refrain from making a long sarcastic post about it, but I would like to ask: what is this going to mean for us?

I play two hours in the evening (CET). Anywhere between 1 PM and 5 PM EST. At these hours, there are about 40,000 players on both Stars and Party, and there are usually around 8 $1/$2 HE tables going on Crypto. Since this is not the time when most Americans play, is it reasonable to surmise that half the player base will be gone at these hours, or do you think it will be more?

Also, I'm guessing that americans make up 75% of all online poker players (I just grabbed that number from thin air). So, if we remove them, isn't it safe to assume that all but the biggest sites will go out of business? And what about Neteller ... they must be in for a rude awakening.

I sincerely hope that if that idiotic bill passes, the creators will feel the wrath of the voters, but until then, where should we meet and play without our american friends?

Cheers,

Smurf

[/ QUOTE ]

I read 92% of online pokers are from the USA.

[jt1]

[ QUOTE ]
I read 92% of online pokers are from the USA.


[/ QUOTE ]

Why is this? I don't know but there are probably about half to a 1/3 western Europeans as Americans, it seems that they'd like to gamble as much as us.

FWIW, as India and Eastern Europe get more prosperous, there will be even more fish. If China and Russia ever democratize, that will help as well.

[BlueSmurf]

Actually there are slightly more Western Europeans than Americans. There are a little less than 300 mio. Americans versus 360 mio. in the European Union. The last number should be discounted somewhat for the new members, but not by more than 60 mio.

[kdog]

[ QUOTE ]
I grew up proud to be an American.

I'm not as proud anymore

[/ QUOTE ]

In addition to this I am thoroughly sick of elected officials who feel the need to protect me from myself. I've been making my own life decisions for a long time now and I don't need the governments help to do so. So fvck off Big Brother!

[sweet_bro]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I grew up proud to be an American.

I'm not as proud anymore

[/ QUOTE ]

In addition to this I am thoroughly sick of elected officials who feel the need to protect me from myself. I've been making my own life decisions for a long time now and I don't need the governments help to do so. So fvck off Big Brother!

[/ QUOTE ]

If this is the first time that you have been outraged by the political process you have lived a sheltered life. bro.