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#1
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Interoperability occurs when programs use standards to
communicate. In a network such as the Internet, standards are stacked in layers so thin the user does not notice. Nor does the legal system or a judge. It takes two standards to defeat any gambling prohibition law and allow every citizens to cash in and out using the their bank number account number (or credit card number). The first is a format for virtual money (for instance URL, id and value). The second defines names for software that can be used to get virtual money. I'm concerned about gambling addicts who live in a fantasy that ruin their lives and the lives of their families. Some victims probably hope that prohibition would be a step forward. They deserve to know that prohibiting gambling on the net is not possible. Because money is no longer exclusively printed by states and exchange between currencies eludes regulation. What exactly is the difference between one euro and the copy of a song file bought for the same amount ? The difference between one euro and the password to a video on demand account funded with the same amount ? None, as long as the copyright laws grants a distribution monopoly to the author of a digital work. A poker room operator has no way to control if their play money table are used to host real money games. Friends may agree that the winner pays the diner. They can create private cash games and count one euro for every play money chip at the end of the session. Every poker room could offer play money tables that accept a virtual money standard. The poker room would have no way to know if the money brought to the tables is convertible into something of value or not. The poker user interface would fetch programs to get virtual money found by search engines over the net, using standardized names. There could exist many virtual money providers, each art dealer could be one. But there only need to be one, selling and buying artwork identified with the same standard as virtual money. Every customer would be able to play artwork at the poker table. I would need to write many pages to explain the ideas mentioned here. And even longer to explore in detail their practical implementation, which is what I've been doing for the most part of this year (2006). But I'm not much of a writer. I just wanted to share what seems to be a non conventional approach of the gambling prohibition issue. |
#2
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There are lots of workarounds. However, John Q Fish does not want to buy virtual money and play for artwork. He needs to have a very simple bank -> ewallet -> poker site. Maybe something more complicated can be done between those steps, which he doesn't have to see or deal with. 1000's of casual players will not go to the extreme lengths we might. Few seem to be worried about being able to play for fun, we're worried about being able to play for profit.
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#3
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[ QUOTE ]
John Q Fish does not want to buy virtual money and play for artwork [/ QUOTE ] Indeed. He does not want to know about TCP/IP either. Fortunately, only the software needs to know. The user interface already hides a vast amount of technicalities, it is able to hide the money to artwork conversion. |
#4
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[ QUOTE ]
Every poker room could offer play money tables that accept a virtual money standard. [/ QUOTE ] It has been years since I sat at a play money table, but don't you have to use the play money the site gives you, not what you "brought" to the table? |
#5
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You are absolutely right. John Q. Fish gets smarter and more tech savvy every day. Remember the guy who said, "Why on earth would the average individual want a personal computer?" In fact, I'm a little surprised that no one has organized a secondary payment system to beat the rake at the big sites.
Maybe a workaround could be a site where payment of debt is completely voluntary. If you go over $x in debt, you're cut off, but with no obligation. Before you laugh, I'll tell you what I learned as a street vendor in New York City in high school. I was warned not to take checks. I had one check returned out of hundreds. After a phone call, the buyer made good. The fact is that the vast majority of people, poker players included, are honest and ethical. |
#6
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Oh yes, and my dad would go to the track and bet within some kind of private pool, to beat the take. I'll have to ask him about that...
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#7
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Yes, you can't play arbitrary currency on a play money table. Because no poker room realized it would be both legal and profitable, world wide.
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#8
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[ QUOTE ]
Yes, you can't play arbitrary currency on a play money table. Because no poker room realized it would be both legal and profitable, world wide. [/ QUOTE ] Would you share your ideas for how the poker room would make a profit? |
#9
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Just like real money tables : play money is raked. If it happens to be convertible into real money, the poker room makes a profit. Because the poker room does not know in advance which play money will be convertible, it just rakes every play money tables.
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#10
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[ QUOTE ]
Just like real money tables : play money is raked. If it happens to be convertible into real money, the poker room makes a profit. Because the poker room does not know in advance which play money will be convertible, it just rakes every play money tables. [/ QUOTE ] Lost me. Rake, gambling, profit--how is it now legal if it was illegal? |
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