Speculate: What if online poker were made legal/regulated in US?

LearnedfromTV · #1 05-31-2006, 03:51 PM

Enough gloom and doom. The Nevada counter-legislation has me thinking about this. Gambling is a pretty big part of U.S. culture and the U.S. economy. The internet isn't going away. Despite the current political environment, legalized internet gambling makes so much sense it may have hope, if not now, sometime. Politicians flip-flop morality stances for lobbying $ all the time.

Would having US-based online casinos run by, Harrah's, MGM, the WPT, etc. boost recreational play significantly? B&M-online cross promotion, no specter of illegality, easier to get money online, and probably most important, U.S. recreational players will trust U.S. based sites much more easily. No more need for .net ads = more effective marketing. Imagine a TV ad for the Stars Million or the WCOOP? "Every week you can win $170,000 from the comfort of your living room!" (An aside, is that the way online sites are marketed in countries where it is legal and regulated?)

Also, if it happens, what's the market shakeout? Do current sites lose business? Move to the US? Does Harrah's merge with Party? Being based in the U.S. would probably be a negative from a tax perspective for a site, or would it? I don't know the different tax laws.

All forms of speculation welcome, let's pretend this has a chance!

John Shiznit · #2 05-31-2006, 04:16 PM

maybe that POS party poker would go broke.

drewjustdrew · #3 05-31-2006, 04:25 PM

I predict automated e-1099s/W2-Gs issued and tax law reform if this gets regulated.

Bigmoney · #4 05-31-2006, 04:46 PM

We'd all be rich as mofos.

IronDragon1 · #5 05-31-2006, 04:48 PM

Quite honestly I don't things would be all that different than they are now.

That's a good thing.

Number27 · #6 05-31-2006, 05:03 PM

Either the major gambling companies would launch their own mega gambling sites while Stars and Party merge with smaller sites to compete or the major companies just buy Stars and Party as an extension to their current business.

Either way it would be fantastic news for online poker pros.

geormiet · #7 05-31-2006, 05:08 PM

google would open gpoker and it would be perfect in every conceivable way.

Number27 · #8 05-31-2006, 05:18 PM

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google would open gpoker and it would be perfect in every conceivable way.

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Except in China where the hole cards would be censored.

lautzutao · #9 05-31-2006, 05:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Either the major gambling companies would launch their own mega gambling sites while Stars and Party merge with smaller sites to compete or the major companies just buy Stars and Party as an extension to their current business.

Either way it would be fantastic news for online poker pros.

[/ QUOTE ]

From what I understand all the major casinos have all of this set up already. They're only waiting for the go ahead from the government. They could literally open up shop instantly.

CrayZee · #10 05-31-2006, 05:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Either the major gambling companies would launch their own mega gambling sites while Stars and Party merge with smaller sites to compete or the major companies just buy Stars and Party as an extension to their current business.

Either way it would be fantastic news for online poker pros.

[/ QUOTE ]

From what I understand all the major casinos have all of this set up already. They're only waiting for the go ahead from the government. They could literally open up shop instantly.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think that theses companies would have set up shop already "invested" under disasociated new brands. Of course, it wouldn't be good for people in these companies to advertise the fact they are doing this. It's pretty easy to switch marketing material once the gov't gives them the green light.