If Bill Passes : Poker TOURNAMENTS considered gambling??

[Pokit2s]

In light of Jack Abramoff's scandal while battling the 2000 bill, it seems as if the bill to ban internet gambling has a much better chance of passing this time around. If by some chance it were to pass, and gambling over the internet became illegal, is it possible to still play poker TOURNAMENTS online??? I understand that placing any bet over the internet is considered gambling. But with tournaments, you pay an "entry fee", and are given chips to play with, each of which has no value in itself. A poker tournament would be not unlike any other competition in which entry fees are paid, and cash prizes are given to the winners. Is this a valid thought or would a site running just tournaments be pegged as a gambling site as well??

[Zele]

Almost surely no difference.

[Pokit2s]

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Almost surely no difference.

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There is if you think about it. In a cash game, you keep score by actually betting "currency". In a Tourney, you pay an entry fee, compete, and there is a prize for the winners, not unlike any other competition. The chips used in the tournaments are not currency, therefore you never actually place a bet. Golf, fishing, and other sports work tournaments in the same way.

[Zele]

I see your point, and it makes sense given the fantasy sports exemption, but I don't think the sponsors of these bills will care. I think the horse racing exemption demonstrates the lack of consistency in what is OK and what is not OK according to these guys.

Unless you consider "all gambling operations that don't support me financially or otherwise help me get elected" as a valid criterion for consistency.

[Pokit2s]

Good point. I guess reasoning doesn't mean a whole lot to these guys. They just want the industry gone.

[ginko]

Say you won a tournament, and you pay tax's on it, it would be filed under 'Gambling Winnings'.

I dont think it will pass though.

[P5sLenny]

The Goodlatte bill H.R. 4777 has some SCARY language in it, including the addition of all times of online gambling, poker and blackjack included to the U.S. Wire act, criminilization on the individual level (unprecedented), forcing ISPs to block gaming sites from US users, and worst of all the right to SEIZE funds that have been used in any type of wagering.

The Goodlatte bill recently cleared comittee for the first time ever and could be voted on in the house any time in the near future. Don't let this get any further!

[Uglyowl]

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The Goodlatte bill recently cleared comittee for the first time ever

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Hey there chicken little, there have been many times "anti-gambling" bills have made it out of committee.

[Lottery Larry]

You'd have to find a better argument than THAT for trying to claim tourneys are not gambling.

[emptyshell]

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The Goodlatte bill recently cleared comittee for the first time ever

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Hey there chicken little,

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Chicken little, yes. But this time the sky really might be falling.