The FBI says we can't play online....

[jackaaron]

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june07/gambling060607.htm

If you look for the word poker, you don't find it. But, of course, you don't find any other card related game either. At one point, it says:

"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"

Obviously poker, and blackjack are virtual card games where we place bets. So, the FBI is actually saying this.

Is this wrong of them to say? Do they have a different interpretation? Are they even allowed to misconstrue the recent legislation like this?

[Coy_Roy]

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Is this wrong of them to say?

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Yes, they do not decide the laws.


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Do they have a different interpretation?

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They would interpret breathing air as illegal if they could.

[Grasshopp3r]

so sue them

[Robin Foolz]

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"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"


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yup. they seem to be saying poker is included. but the wording is vague and the statement is ambiguous. of course they do this intentionally (because there is no federal law) so that average joe reads this and says "see. poker is illegal.." this is all propaganda on the part of the fbi. it's a shame they release official statements laced with non-facts and with no mention of actual law to drive their own agenda, but let's face reality--they do this because they can. there is no accountability. they get away with it because citizens are not educated and/or don't care enough to force these agencies to uphold their constitutional oath and duty.

[Skallagrim]

It is extremely dishonest for the FBI to make such statements. Do they mean the online bridge sites are illegal? Cribbage? How about those sites linked by OBG that offer online Spades and Hearts (and are based in the US no less)?

And even if you were to ignore the above, the Federal Courts have already ruled that no federal law applies to online card games. To the extent Federal law like the UIGEA incorporates state law, state law varies from state to state of course, and not all states prohibit online card games, in fact not most.

Its one thing to present an opinion on line, its quite another to present an opinion as fact that is clearly wrong on one level, and at least misleading on another. But hey, its our FBI right, they can do no wrong, they are heroes. You must be a terrorist if you have a problem with this.

Skallagrim

[Overdrive]

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"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"


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....but if you want to bet $50,000 on the horses today over the internet - well that's fine with us, go bet your heart out. But remember, it's 'illegal' to play a $5 sit and go poker game. We're just looking out for you because that's what we do here at the FBI.

[permafrost]

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"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"


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....but if you want to bet $50,000 on the horses today over the internet - well that's fine with us, go bet your heart out. But remember, it's 'illegal' to play a $5 sit and go poker game. We're just looking out for you because that's what we do here at the FBI.

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I had not heard that DOJ thinks "that's fine". Any source?

[DeadMoneyDad]

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"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"


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....but if you want to bet $50,000 on the horses today over the internet - well that's fine with us, go bet your heart out. But remember, it's 'illegal' to play a $5 sit and go poker game. We're just looking out for you because that's what we do here at the FBI.

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I had not heard that DOJ thinks "that's fine". Any source?

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The problem is neither the FBI nor the DOJ have a sense of humor...........

D$D

[bkholdem]

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"No placing cyber bets on sporting events or in virtual card games;"


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....but if you want to bet $50,000 on the horses today over the internet - well that's fine with us, go bet your heart out. But remember, it's 'illegal' to play a $5 sit and go poker game. We're just looking out for you because that's what we do here at the FBI.

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I had not heard that DOJ thinks "that's fine". Any source?

[/ QUOTE ]

Aren't the FBI and the DOJ those guys who run around wearing funny costumes expecting that we treat them special, when they are just regular people, people I personally prefer to ignore and have as little to do with as possible.

They wear funny hats and think they have special powers. I dread that the public feeds into that.

[Overdrive]

Horse racing is exempt from the internet ban. You can bet all day and night long on horse racing from sites based on servers in the US.