In September 2006, just before adjourning for the midterm elections, both the House of Representatives and Senate passed legislation (as an amendment to the unrelated Safe Port Act) that would make transactions from banks or similar institutions to online gambling sites illegal. This differs from a previous bill passed only by the House that expanded the scope of the Wire Act. The passed bill only addresses banking issues. The act was signed into law on October 13, 2006 by the President, and there is a provision for a 270-day period to develop enforcement measures. At the bill-signing ceremony, Bush never mentioned the Internet gambling measure, which was opposed by banking groups. In response to this new legislation, a number of online gambling operators announced that real-money gambling operations would be suspended for U.S. customers. PartyGaming's stock dropped by 60% following its announcement. Other operators such as PokerStars continue service to US players.
Get more infomation here. I like to play poker about once or twice a week online at (pokerStars). First of all, let me start by saying the reason I like to play poker as apposed to any other type of casino game is because it requires a little skill, luck and timing to me this is not gambling. Gambling is random like slots or blackjack, where you play against the house. Its more like betting, on yourself.Secondly, I like online poker because it gives me the ability to play "micro level" games. What "micro" means online is games that cost less then 5 dollars to play. You could only play a game this cheaply online because being at a casino this would be a non-profit event for the house. Online it gives me the advantage of playing a 1 dollar tournament where there may be 1500-3000. So I can play 1-5 hours of poker for only a dollar and I have a chance at winning a few hundred if I win, good deal to me. If I would go to a casino and buy-in for a live tournament then I could expect to pay $50 dollars or more and also typically the amount of people playing are less then 100. Its a nice thing every once and a while but there would be no real way to sharpen my skills because I need many hours of "practicing at a lower level." for me to go big. Anyways that's why I like to play. That and online I can play at home in my underwear if I like.
The problem I have is that over the last year the US government has been putting a squeeze on the Online Poker, a multi-billion dollar industry. Now most poker sites that once catered to the US market (party poker was the biggest and the hardest hit) are pulling out one by one. Also the government has made it really hard to make a deposit or withdrawal. One company a trusted online bank called Netteller pulled completely out of the US market about 2 weeks ago. This forces die-hard poker players to find less secure ways to transfer moneys online making oneself open to fraud.
I can see that they would want to regulate the industry in order to tax it because that's what makes sense. But "brick & mortar" casinos such as the ones in Vegas see the industry as a direct threat to there pocketbooks.......I am sure that online poker companies want to regulate the money coming in and out of US players pockets, work with the goverment in order to generate actual tax revenue. Personally I would not mind a small tax, its fair, but to just to try to put an end to the whole thing instead of taxing it sounds narrow-minded and short sited, it stinks of bureaucratic BS. The thing is its going to be going on anyways.
The way I see it is the government is making it harder for me to spend my hard earned money the way I would like and is making poker players criminals. I would guess that the majority of poker players in the US are productive citizens with jobs to support there play. Online a poker player is more likly to gamble for less money being that cost of most online poker tourneys is so low you could play with 50 dollars on a site for months and months(I have). So its not easy for Joe gambler to spend his life savings..
The internet is a boundless borderless entity and to control it is futile. So far online poker has shifted and made adjustments to continue servicing US consumers. They will continue to shift and adjust until the US comes to there senses and decides to collect there potential 3.3 Billion in taxes. Just like with MP3's and the music industry you can not stop progress you have to adjust. (just ask Steve Jobs or Tower Records) The good news is there is a movement to fight this. If you play online poker then it is your duty to register with PPA(Poker Players Alliance) its free, online and easy to register and show your support, the link is below.
Fact: There are over 23 million Americans who play poker online.
Fact: An economic analysis showed that the federal tax revenue could reach $3.3 billion annually, while states could collect $1 billion more.
Here is the Poker Players Alliance site: https://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/joinftp.php?ph=7805f9f8&account_type=1
A little Background reading:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071100084.html
Is online poker wrong?
Should it be illegal?
Did you know that it was just made illegal?
How do you feel about this issue?
Brian Barringer
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