I have mixed emotions about what happened to Greg Raymer, one he was clearly set up, look no one did more for the poker boom in the early with the exception of Phil Gordon than Greg Raymer, no on did more for online poker, or for that matter the World Series of Poker, in fact Greg Raymer recommended that every should try winning the main event long before it became less about the money of the bracelet and more about being a once in a lifetime experience US poker players did but he didnt. He stayed to fight the good fight and supported the Heartland Poker giving local and regional poker a boost something many poker pros today are too good for.
Still there is something that tells me he should have know better, his personal judgement seems to be as skewed as his political judgment that sometimes confuses libertarianism with conversativism one favors less government and more personal freedoms while the other believes that government should be a moral police that serves the will of political control freaks.
Sure Greg Raymer was a trailblazer in the early days of the poker boom as much as Chad of Chads Beer Reviews was considered be a trailblazer in the early days of the Craft Beer Boom and both are liberitarians who lean in the conservative direction.
But both seemed a little offputting to many of there peers and both seems to begrudge that fact they let the prospective worlds be it poker of craft beer pass them by.
And while we think Greg Raymers staying in the US and giving support to the Heartland Poker Tour after the Epic Poker Debacle that was the Epic Poker League is admirable one cannot help but wonder with his 4 victories in one seasons was he really helping the Heartland Poker Tour or any other regional circut or was he playing way below his skill level in order to pickup some easy money playing against people he could easy beat
And while I dont expect poker players like Raymer to be role models on you are a Spokesperson for the game to should make judgements that make sense or people will have a right to ask questions as in this case
The take away from this is as a poker player you should know when a situation scream ITS A TRAP or you end up be busted
Miss Davis obviously didnt talk talk to poker players when she came up with her idea for online poker legslation
First only big international corporations would be able to afford afford the $10 million application fee.
The bill excludes companies like Pokerstars-Fulltilt, Bwin-Party, 888-Pacific Poker and the bill would not only prevent local gypsy poker leagues like Riverchasers from enter the online poker, but could also lead to there shutdown hurting players and the local establishment like bars and restraunts that host them (Riverchaser is a live free to play poker league)
Second the 20% taxes virtually(get it) eliminates any profitablity and guarentees that players would lose money
Segway into the problem gambling clause of the law which says if you dont make money fast you banned
Also there is no liquidity without interstate or international play, no tournament poker which is the most poker players are today and forget Stud, Draw or Pot Limit Omaha as well
Then here is the kicker what have to protect our casinos and our money from competion.
Face it outside of Parx, we dont have any casinos there all internationally owned so what are you proctecting. You have no developed online platform so who is going to develope this and pay the 10 million dollar application fee. And isnt capitalism about compitetion.
In its current state this bill is even worse than the Federal Bill it will generate no revenue for the state it's a hot air balloon without any air
This bill needs to go back to the drawing board
As for Representative Paul Clymer, he to make everything illegal which we wouldn't take seriously if it were not for the the that the Republican Governnor wants to take 2 billion dollars out of education and put it in to incarceration and the Repulican state legislature might go along.
Which is why the poker community must stay vigilant and work to change these state governments like Pennsylvania in the 2014 election where I intend to use my poker skills
Online Poker - Bad Actor Clauses
The only thing these bad actor clauses guarentee is that no currently existing online poker room in existance will be allowed to enter the US Market.
I dont know where these online poker rooms are going to spring from since no casino even has a developed online poker software that is ready for testing and where is the money or who is going to spend the money to develope the platform.
Image if we applied this standard to high speed rail, wait we just might do just that and wait for GM, Chrysler, Ford or GE to do just that. Which would raise the question why havent they done by now.
Easy answer private enterprise doesnt develope technology platform the government sector does.
Either this is just another way of saying yes but meaning no or these people are really naive about infrastructure issues in America.
Without Pokerstars, Fulltilt, BwinPartyPoker, 888Pacific Poker or Government money online poker just wont happen plain and simple and all this legislation is, is nothing more than lip service to the Poker Community
The American Gaming Associations attempts to keep Pokerstars and Fulltilt Poker out of the US market is harmful both the Poker Community, the Gaming Industry, the Financial Industry and the business world in general
It shows how the American Gaming Association in arrogantly thinking about itself ignores and brand centric pulblic
Pokerstars built its brand with the American Public through advertising and providing a product that the poker community has come to know and love.
The American Gaming Association has no software gaming platform, no brand name, no marketing campaign and if and when they ever do do they really think that the poker community fall head over heels for an unknown quantity.
If they hadnt developed a gaming platform by now what makes they will do so in the immediate future especially with there own money.
As for Pokerstars this gaming super giant was not built on deceit on chicanery they were built into a monopoly or worse a holding due to bad government polices both in the US and in countries like France and Italy.
They are the only company about to enter any market including the US Market without asking for a government handout which is more than I could say US casino that wants to enter the online without a fully developed platform.
And if Pokerstars gets locked of the US Market they will be just fine, they will just seek to monopolize the European, Latin American and Asian Markets and the American Gaming Association will find itself lock out of the Rest of the World Market due to a trade war that they helped contribute to and the real losers will be the rest of us.
Its nice to hear from our conservative antil poker friends, as for conversative donors not wanting a foreign company buying their way into the US is market, may thats because they've been subsidizing foreign companies into the US Market during the Bush era all in the name of privitization of governments services.
Lets face it all online gaming companies are from foreign countries since their inception, only Full Titl Poker and Ultimate Bet were created in the US and we all know how they turned out
Conservatives dont want any online poker period and they pine for the days when Stud poker was banned because it was considered a game of chance not a game of skill but that's an arguement for another day
Perhaps our conservative will get what he wants and Govenor Christie will veto the Online Poker Bill, Pokerstars wont buy the Atlantic Casino, The gaming industry will start to go broke with on Casino toppling after another as a result of lower turnouts in poker tournaments and given that half of all poker players are involve in the stock market (a comforting thought)
the Financial Industry will go into another crisis but this time Congress will refuse to bail them out
Conservatives have a good thing going deny our financial industry is in trouble and when we have a serious crisis blame it on the Obama Administration all for the purpose of putting another Bush in the White House so Republicans can try to make things better or more likely make things even worse.
While I think the focus on state level is long overdue and do not think we should abandon a federal effort on Online Poker
A state by state effort will be a long slong and efforts to legalize online poker will happen much slower than many people realize especially given the nature of many state legislatures these days.
I also think we cannot rely on the Poker Players Alliance, or the American Gaming Associates to do our bidding for us.
Perphaps the most important thing that has to happen is that we will have to change the make up of both the US Congress and the State governments in the 2014 election in electing a congress and state legslatures that are more receptive to the game of poker in general
Poker Players are going to start using their poker skills in the politcial area, that may mean playing less poker and spending more time with politcial activism and stop relying on the PPA and the AGA to do their bidding for them.
Remember Congress and the State Legslatures are full of Fish, Chips and alot of Dead Money which is the staple of poker players diet so Send In The Sharks
Regarding California and other western states we must using the initiative and refereredem process to get poker legislation past. Sure Washignton has strict anti online poker prohibitions but voters just legialize marijuanna those prohibitions could be reversed by the voters so what are we wating for, here's an opportunity staring us straight in the eye so we should be pursuing it agrressively the same with the state of Colorado.
In the end it is up to us to practice in politics what we preach on the felt
Trying to attach an Online Poker another piece of legislation was always an unrealistic and wrongheaded approach to take since the issue like was always too big to begin with, and like the affordable care has to pass or fail on its own merits.
Trying to attach a Federal Online Gaming Bill on any last minute legislation would be like trying to tow an 18 Wheel Tractor Trailer with a Smart Car or a Scion IQ
The Reid Kyl bill also had to many nonstarters most notibly the Pokerstars Fulltilt banishment for 5 years. Pokerstars/Tilt is just simply too big to banish just like HSBC bank was too big to prosecute for numerous violations of federal law and conservatives feared that this would obivously lead to a political and legal assault on large international corperations like AB-In Bev and moderates and liberals also fear that such actions would threaten the global economy and possilby throw is another recession or worse.
We do need a federal online gaming bill one that allows for free competetion, fair taxation, and generates revenue for both the states and federal government and we need one that will have an infrastructure that will be ready by January 1 2014 which is when all the big legislation like the affordable care act go into effect or we could be faced with a liquidity and equity crisis and without an federal online poker infrastucture the gaming industry and states like Neveda, California, and New Jersey will go broke and Wall Street wont be far behind since many poker players are stockbrokers who use the poker bankrolls to make investments in the market.
Whn it comes to poker legislation, Bill, New Jersey online poker bill is a good example of what an online poker bill should look lijke by allowing for open competition, setting up an online poker infrastructure without the use of taxpayer funds, by providing players with the best online gaming options available at the lowest cost is a good why govenor Christie should sign this bill into law.
In contrast the Reid Kyl bill which does not allow for open competition, does not address the issue of setting up a poker infrastructure, would be a taxpayer give away to the big casino and would offer the least amount of online gaming options at the most absorbenet cost is a good reason why President Obama should veto the Reid Kyl bill in its current form.
I always like Pokerstars which is the best online gaming room out there and as long as the move to purchase the Atlantic Casino saves jobs in the short run and creats jobs in the long bring pokerstars in is a good deal for both New Jersey and could be a great deal for the US Marker at large
Right now Pokerstars is the only company out capable of providing the US Market with the infrastructure for online gaming it needs at little or no cost. No other company can or is willing to do that without a US government handout that will no doulbt entail taxpayer dollars.
Thats why I think New Jersey is taking the most realistic approach to online gaming why our lawmakers in Washington DC craft bad legislation that is devoid of reality.
While I agree with suvivorman that we need a truly American sites service all states who choose to participate, I think not letting Pokerstars back in would be like not letting foreign players play at the WSOP and other American Tourniments and if we lock international sites out of our market they will lock us out of the rest of the world market and the game of poker would suffer as a result.
Personally i always liked playing on stars and they were the best site to play on at the time I would venture to still the best site out there today.
Would I like to see Stars comeback? Yes but there would be a few caveats one they would either have to have a land based casino operation in this country or they would have to set up technical support staff in the US to solve customer issues and more importantly employ American citizens.
And with the exception of Bovada (UB and Absolute Poker are history) we should encourage sites who are currently offering real money games to come in from the could once a licensing regime is set up.
Its seems with its possible purchase of the Atlantic Casino Pokerstars would meet the caveats needed for a return to the US Market and buying a failing casino would not only allow people to play on there favorite site but would also save US jobs which are still important in this fragile recovery.
Again I will say this Pokerstars is the best site out there and they set the bar pretty high, having said that I always would like to see something come from the US Market thats even better and I believe it can happen but it would happen overnight and the likely of homegrown online pokerrooms that are even better than stars are years away.
Not Coming to Online Pokers Rescue: The American Gaming Association Pushes A Bill That Is Bad For The Economy and .
Bad For Poker As Well
I think by now we all know how most people fell about the Reid Kyl Bill simply titled :Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2012, as you can tell I am being sarcastic basically they are fiercely opposed to this bill like myself. If the video by the American Gaming Association was intented to say our opinion in favor of this legislation it failed in fact I am more opposed to this bill now than i was before I saw the video. But this video isn't for skeptics in the real world its for the Senators, Congressmen and the lobbyist who may or may not fund there campaigns depending on how they will vote.
Without going into to much detail here is what I think is wrong with the Reid Kyl Bill and why its a nonstarter from the get go.
1.) Without a national framework online gaming would not expand as fast as the AGA contends and within a period of 4 years you would probably see at most 28 states taking up online gaming mostly selling lottery tickets
2.)This bill would inhibit the states ablility to raise the much needed revenue in order to balance there budgets and pay for healthcare
3.)Under the Reid Kyl bill the states that choose to opt in would only be offering intrastate poker with a very narrow liquidity pool and very few gaming choices
4.)The is a transfer of wealth scheme in which states whose choose to opt in would end up giving their revenue to states like Neveda, California, and New Jersey instead of a revenue sharing model
5.)Infrastructure, we currently have no online poker industry and infrastructure to begin with and without participation from companies like Pokerstars-Full Tilt, Bwin-Party Poker of 888 Holdings setting up such an infrastucture will be very expensive with negative EV in the foreseeable future
6.)Who Pays for the infrastucture then, the Federal Government, the Gaming Corporations, of more likely the taxpayers and who then benefits if the taxpayer pay for it the taxpayer of th Gaming Corporations
7.) This bill creates an online poker monopoly run by the big gaming corporations backed by US taxpayer dollars(more welfare for the rich) and inhibits and prevents startup companies from entering the market, Start Up companies are the main producers of jobs in this country
8.) Online Poker is an enhancement to live poker not a replacement and for any online poker bill to be acceptable it must lead to creating new jobs not eliminating currents jobs.
Online poker was meant to introduce people to the game of poker at minimal cost so people could learn and develope their skills without going broke it was never meant to replace casino poker.
9.) The bills blackout and banishment provisions by locking out poker rooms like Stars, Tilt, Party & 888 and possilbly the professional players who endorsed those sites could be unconstitutional and could also start and international trade war when the world economy least needs one.
10.) History; With his reelection President Obama will look for second term accomplishments and while legalizing online poker could be one of them given is opposition on the Stop Online Piracy Act there is no way he will want to sign a bill titled
Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2012 I dont belive President Obama wants to going in history and signing on Internet Prohibition bill and for this bill in its current form to get the Presidents signature it will have to be titled Internet Gambling Legalization, Licensing, Poker Consumer Proctection and Repeal UIGEA Act of 2012. But it would never passed in Congress, I guess they'll have to work or a real online poker bill
Reid-Kyl Billing Faltering: Commentary
The main reason this bill is failing is in its curent state it is not garnering any support from members of both parties, the poker community, the internet community, the financial community and state governments and raises constitutionial and trade war concerns which would be counter productive. And to make matters worse there seems to be a lack of trasparencey or discussion on this bill be many find disconserting.
Some see this poker bill as a government takeover of online poker which is hardley the case,while others more legitimate see this a casino monopoly bill that would start a government trend of protecting corporate monopolies not just in th gaming world but the internet in general stiffling small business growth, which has been the main concern of Doug Walker(The Nostalgia Critic) who points out that most economic growth comes from small business internet start ups not big Hollywood studios, Las Vegas Casinos or Wall Street banks
State Governments oppose this bill because it would hinder there ability to raise revenue and offers no incentive to take part in a national internet gaming. This bill does not address how an internet poker infrastructure is going to be set up and who is going to pay for it and worse any rate of return on state government or federal government investment would be too far into the future and given will be have to reduce the deficit, the national debt and pay for affordable health care act a very unappealing proposition
And then there is the issue of when we would start playing poker online again if this bill were to pass in all of its ingloriousness and that would be in 2 1/2 years depending on what state you live in and assuming there are states that choose to Opt In, and if we are lucky in 5 years you might be able to play on PStars-FTilt, Bwin-Party Poker or 888 Holdings that assuming the EU doesnt lock US Poker Rooms out for us locking EU poker rooms in other word a trade war which could only be resolved through an internationial treaty which would take 2/3 of the US Senate to ratify and all the parliments in Europe to agree on as well, Good Luck on that one.
Finally there the bills coauthor Jon Kyl who didn't really change his position on poker its not like he was against it before he was for it, his position is more like Steve Colberts better Tommorrow Tommorrow; John Kyl position is clear he doesnt oppose online poker tommorrow, he just opposes it today and fear not Senator Jon Kyls position will be the same tommorrow as it is today and the next day after that and the next after that forever and impurpituity
Okay here's one we both have pocket A's and the 5 computerized players enter the pot
We both move All In and you get your Aces Cracked while I win $100.00 and guess what you also owe me $100.00 Sucker
So this is what legal poker is going to look like
You could go broke faster playing this than playing a $10.00 per hand game of 3 card poker at a casino
Where is the skill
Skillbet, they should really call this Shillbet Poker
The issue itself may be to big for a lame duck session plus while they are trying to sell this bill to a Republication House and a reduction of individual freedom to get to pass, they will then have to sell it to the President as an expansion of individual liberty and economic freedom oh and yes revenue enhancement to get the President to sign it into law which is a virtual impossibilty which guarentees the Reid Kyls poker bills failure.
Given the all the problems with this bill and they are many and the lack of transparency involved the only way you can get this bill put into law is if you call it RepealUIGEA 2012 which is not.
The Reid Kyl bill does not expand freedom, does promote economic growth, or raise the revenue needed to reduce the deficit, in fact it does the opposite.
The good thing about the Reid Kyl Bill is the blow back they have received for crafting to narrow of a bill which is exactly the opposite of what happen when the affordable craft act was being written up.
More to follow
Those wanting to play again on Poker Stars, Full Tilt, Party Poker, and 888 Holdings(Pacific Poker) should not assume that an these provisions would be solved with a Supreme Court ruling such a provision of the this Bill as unconstitutionial or that would have happened already.
Also those wanting a poker bill any poker bill need to keep in mind that the current proposed bill might even lock out foreign players from these sites from being bought in to the WSOP and could also cause the European market to retaliate against US companies creating a trade war which could only be resolved through a GAAT3 Treaty and there is no political will on either side of the pond to pass another GAAT treaty
This bill like the Affordable Health Care Act is a disaster for the same reasons, lack of competition, lack of liquidity, intrastate pools which the states would be responsible for setting up, and a regressive taxation regime to pay for the intrastate health exchanges that states have to have set up by 2014
Americans want a Single Payer Health Care System and get a Single Player Online Poker System in which the government shills poker players who are dumb enough to play even when the odds are stacked against them just so they can play poker
Off course they dont want Pokerstars in this country not because its a monopoly but because they because they are seen as too Socialistic with there paying out the top 20% of EPT APPT, and LAPT brick and mortor tours. This was an idea proposed by Julian Thew which ended up paying off in dividends, but such an idea is seen unacceptable in this winner take all society
The bottom line is whether we are talking about Online Poker Legislation or National Health Care Legislation any time you put in the hands of the US Senate there bound to screw it up for all of us.
Matthew Kredall makes one good point at the end of the day it doesnt matter what the American People think if an online poker bill is to pass this is it regardless of what Americans think which is sad but true and downright disgusting as well
Like the Affordable Heathcare Act this Online Poker Bill might amount to something wothwhile three decades from now but its hardley worth holding our breaths waiting that long.
The PPA wont believe this response coming from me, the adminstration long delayed response is greatly appreciated if not long overdue, but they are also based on political reality, we might me closer or farther away from the restoration of online poker than we think that depends on a few things for instance, the Senate recently approved a bill to let the US postal service ship wine and beer even if approved would be a good sign for both online poker, the wine and craft beer industry and the US Postal Service but onine beer and wine purchases will still be up to the states. If not approved it could be a giant step backwards in a country that is so socially awkard and inept that it suffers from arrested developement. The crackdown on medical marijuana on the other hand is a bad sign.
Also whether online poker will be better or worse in a post prohibitionist era or about the same will remains to be seen assuming we legalize, and license online poker.
In the end these decisions like all others are based on politcal reality and in the end that depends on us we the voters.
WOW, WHO DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING;
Not Surprising but Still Alarming
We learned 2 things last week, one was that of the choice of online games to play women prefer playing poker and in fact they may prefer online poker at first over live poker at least until they build their confidence up in the game. The second thing we learned is that the state of Utah wants to Opt Out of any Federal Poker Legislation provided that any legislation that passes will be giving the states the option to Opt Out. This neat little provision is something Arizona Senator Jon Kyl will insist is in any final Federal Poker Bill. There is a serious problem with the Opt Out clauses one it has echoes of States Rights which is basically a code word for the Old Segregationist South. Second given some states past histories to we really want to give states the option of Opting Out. Even though Utah had no past history of racial discrimation it has had a history of discriminating against women and gays. If we start giving the states the option of Opting Out are we then going to giving states the option of Opting Out of A woman’s right to choose if Roe V Wade is overturned and we have to enact Reproductive Rights Act and are we going to let states like Utah opt out Contraception as well. Are we going to let states like Utah Opt Out of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Voting Rights Act of 1965? Sure Utah has had a history of being anti gambling and Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina have had a history of being fiercely segregationist but we didn't let them Opt Out of Federal Civil Rights legislation if we did what would the purpose of having such legislation in the first place. Here what’s wrong with this picture sure Utah is a state that is dominated by the Mormon Church but it is also a part of the Untied States of America and we are one country not 50 little Banana Republics of Feudal Kingdoms, also do you think California can Opt out of the Federal Prohibition of Marijuana? No. Can Wyoming of Vermont Opt Out of Federal legislation that set the drinking age 21 lowering it back down to 18? No. Point yes Utah is a place where they don’t want you to some, drink , use Contraception of gamble but they also have a highly esteemed brewery known as Uinta Brewing which is known for its Oaked Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale which its alcohol content comes in Around 10% abv. Certainly if you can produce high gravity ales in Utah you can have online poker. Also we are talking about repealing a prohibition that has been imposed on the American People not expanding a freedom of a right( OH THANK YOU US GOVERNMENT FOR GIVING ME THE RIGHT TO PLAY POKER) that millions of Americans enjoyed up until recently when the government started prosecuting the online poker rooms and the poker pros who were affiliated with so this is a hard fought battle to restore what was lost and build upon buy 1) Repealing the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 1986 2.) Passage of a Fair Gaming and Licensing Act and the Consumer PC Protection and Security Act which would a.) Legalize and License internet poker rooms b.) Make sure all Gaming Software would be free of viruses, spyware, and malware and be registered with Norton of Macphee as a computer safe c.) Allow for minimal and nonburdenous taxation as a way to raise revenues and finally and most important d.) Contain no Blackout Period of Opt Out Clause for the States, and allow for all citizens of the United States where ever they are to play against whoever they want without Federal, State, or Local Government interference. And finally we are talking about the internet which I know the state of Utah has wanted to regulate and perhaps outlaw since its inception, the internet that one thing that puts the world at our fingertips and that one thing that brings us all together and brings down tyrannical regimes. So you want to Censure the Internet, HELL NO THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT, STATES RIGHTS MY ASS we are one nation, one people, one constitution were all Americans have the same set of rights regardless of what state they live in.
fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American People
It’s Mississippi Stupid
Seriously did anybody really think this bill was going to pass? Not Really when you look at what type of legislation the Mississippi state legislature like the Personhood Amendment, which would not only ban abortion, but birth control and in vitro fertilization, this amendment was so broadly and poorly written that it could technically ban procreation out of fear of miscarriages. Do you really think a state government who has a long history of passing legislation like this is serious about internet poker, if you do you ought to give up poker because you don’t know how to read your opponents and you are still playing your cards while others are playing you like Paganini. Plus we all know that intrastate poker is a Great Banana Hoax in which the taxpayers end up paying the tab but that a different commentary for a different day. As I said before and I'll saying it again the only way will get Internet Poker back in America is when we get off our asses and demand that congress repeal the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act and the sooner the better. The longer it takes to repeal this lousy law the harder it will be and the more likely that Americans will be paying poker online, in a bar, at home without fear of reprisals more it will be become a distant memory.
Fighting one small battle in the Governments war on the American People
I think Flintsword hit the nail on the head for the most part Epic Poker was geared to the top 1% of the poker world , did not have grassroots support from the bottom up. Epic Poker while an intriguing idea was implemented at a bad time right around the time the United States Government through both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security started waging its war on poker and poker players. But if Epic fails it cannot be totally blamed on the US Government. True we have Poker Prohibition going on which is sure to scare off more and more players in the long run and yes brick and mortar casinos will start seeing diminishing returns and poker rooms and the jobs associated with it will start to disappear and be replaced by slot machines. Part of the blame will have to go to the players especially the big name pros who have not rallied for grass roots support to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act. I do not see the Poker Players Alliance pushing for repeal and I am very surprised that the poker community has not harvested the Political will or energy of the Occupy Movement when Occupy of all things fits into the Poker Prohibition narrative very well. I believe we ought to have an Occupy Poker Movement which will would be an organization of poker players built from the ground up of ordinary poker players not poker pros or stars who will fight to end Poker Prohibition by fighting to repeal the UIGEA and legalization and licensing of internet poker as well as recognition of poker as sport like it is in many European countries. The and perhaps after that we can work to rebuild the poker community from the ground up and create Professional Poker Federation and a business model that will be successful for years to come fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American people)
Really" Here is the problem I have with respect to the National Conference of State Legislatures saying that legalization should be done on the state level. First a decision was made on a National level when Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act without debate or the consent of the American people so any state legalization and regulation would be in violation of Federal Law, state legislatures know that and they know that licensing and regulation would require a repeal of the UIGEA. As for sovereignty of the states look at what they are doing with regards to abortion rights, free speech rights and voter ID laws but here we go with the old states rights argument again. Do we really want to trust the states to have authority on all of these issues and while we’re at why not throw civil rights decisions in the mix we all know how well the states did with that especially the southern states? Do we really want have a different set of laws for each state this is the 21st Century and we are 1 nation not 50 little banana republic’s or feudal kingdom. Look if you see what going on with all the draconian laws a of these right wing state legislatures are trying to pass you would know that without repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act all this talk about the states taking the lead on online poker is nothing more than a pipe dream. How can you trust the states to legalize Internet Poker when they are working hard to restrict access to abortion and contraception, the answer is you can’t. What the National Conference of State Legislatures which is dominated by right wing Republicans is doing is trying to perpetrate a Great Banana Hoax
What we need is a national framework for Internet Poker one that is fair, protects consumers and the players privacy only can we have serious discussion that turns this pipe dream back into a reality.
(fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American people)
News Comments
Five Thoughts: Raymer's Arrest, Volpe's Million, Visser's Victory, and More (4)I have mixed emotions about what happened to Greg Raymer, one he was clearly set up, look no one did more for the poker boom in the early with the exception of Phil Gordon than Greg Raymer, no on did more for online poker, or for that matter the World Series of Poker, in fact Greg Raymer recommended that every should try winning the main event long before it became less about the money of the bracelet and more about being a once in a lifetime experience US poker players did but he didnt. He stayed to fight the good fight and supported the Heartland Poker giving local and regional poker a boost something many poker pros today are too good for.
Still there is something that tells me he should have know better, his personal judgement seems to be as skewed as his political judgment that sometimes confuses libertarianism with conversativism one favors less government and more personal freedoms while the other believes that government should be a moral police that serves the will of political control freaks.
Sure Greg Raymer was a trailblazer in the early days of the poker boom as much as Chad of Chads Beer Reviews was considered be a trailblazer in the early days of the Craft Beer Boom and both are liberitarians who lean in the conservative direction.
But both seemed a little offputting to many of there peers and both seems to begrudge that fact they let the prospective worlds be it poker of craft beer pass them by.
And while we think Greg Raymers staying in the US and giving support to the Heartland Poker Tour after the Epic Poker Debacle that was the Epic Poker League is admirable one cannot help but wonder with his 4 victories in one seasons was he really helping the Heartland Poker Tour or any other regional circut or was he playing way below his skill level in order to pickup some easy money playing against people he could easy beat
And while I dont expect poker players like Raymer to be role models on you are a Spokesperson for the game to should make judgements that make sense or people will have a right to ask questions as in this case
The take away from this is as a poker player you should know when a situation scream ITS A TRAP or you end up be busted
News Comments
The Nightly Turbo: Pennsylvania Considers Online Poker, London Tournament Breaks Record (3)Miss Davis obviously didnt talk talk to poker players when she came up with her idea for online poker legslation
First only big international corporations would be able to afford afford the $10 million application fee.
The bill excludes companies like Pokerstars-Fulltilt, Bwin-Party, 888-Pacific Poker and the bill would not only prevent local gypsy poker leagues like Riverchasers from enter the online poker, but could also lead to there shutdown hurting players and the local establishment like bars and restraunts that host them (Riverchaser is a live free to play poker league)
Second the 20% taxes virtually(get it) eliminates any profitablity and guarentees that players would lose money
Segway into the problem gambling clause of the law which says if you dont make money fast you banned
Also there is no liquidity without interstate or international play, no tournament poker which is the most poker players are today and forget Stud, Draw or Pot Limit Omaha as well
Then here is the kicker what have to protect our casinos and our money from competion.
Face it outside of Parx, we dont have any casinos there all internationally owned so what are you proctecting. You have no developed online platform so who is going to develope this and pay the 10 million dollar application fee. And isnt capitalism about compitetion.
In its current state this bill is even worse than the Federal Bill it will generate no revenue for the state it's a hot air balloon without any air
This bill needs to go back to the drawing board
As for Representative Paul Clymer, he to make everything illegal which we wouldn't take seriously if it were not for the the that the Republican Governnor wants to take 2 billion dollars out of education and put it in to incarceration and the Repulican state legislature might go along.
Which is why the poker community must stay vigilant and work to change these state governments like Pennsylvania in the 2014 election where I intend to use my poker skills
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The Nightly Turbo: Online Poker in Illinois, Sam Trickett Enters $125K Premier League (2)Online Poker - Bad Actor Clauses
The only thing these bad actor clauses guarentee is that no currently existing online poker room in existance will be allowed to enter the US Market.
I dont know where these online poker rooms are going to spring from since no casino even has a developed online poker software that is ready for testing and where is the money or who is going to spend the money to develope the platform.
Image if we applied this standard to high speed rail, wait we just might do just that and wait for GM, Chrysler, Ford or GE to do just that. Which would raise the question why havent they done by now.
Easy answer private enterprise doesnt develope technology platform the government sector does.
Either this is just another way of saying yes but meaning no or these people are really naive about infrastructure issues in America.
Without Pokerstars, Fulltilt, BwinPartyPoker, 888Pacific Poker or Government money online poker just wont happen plain and simple and all this legislation is, is nothing more than lip service to the Poker Community
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Five Thoughts: If You Can’t Beat Them, Call Them a Business Built on Deceit (8)The American Gaming Associations attempts to keep Pokerstars and Fulltilt Poker out of the US market is harmful both the Poker Community, the Gaming Industry, the Financial Industry and the business world in general
It shows how the American Gaming Association in arrogantly thinking about itself ignores and brand centric pulblic
Pokerstars built its brand with the American Public through advertising and providing a product that the poker community has come to know and love.
The American Gaming Association has no software gaming platform, no brand name, no marketing campaign and if and when they ever do do they really think that the poker community fall head over heels for an unknown quantity.
If they hadnt developed a gaming platform by now what makes they will do so in the immediate future especially with there own money.
As for Pokerstars this gaming super giant was not built on deceit on chicanery they were built into a monopoly or worse a holding due to bad government polices both in the US and in countries like France and Italy.
They are the only company about to enter any market including the US Market without asking for a government handout which is more than I could say US casino that wants to enter the online without a fully developed platform.
And if Pokerstars gets locked of the US Market they will be just fine, they will just seek to monopolize the European, Latin American and Asian Markets and the American Gaming Association will find itself lock out of the Rest of the World Market due to a trade war that they helped contribute to and the real losers will be the rest of us.
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State Sen. Lesniak Says PokerStars-Atlantic Club Deal Is Good for New Jersey (3)Its nice to hear from our conservative antil poker friends, as for conversative donors not wanting a foreign company buying their way into the US is market, may thats because they've been subsidizing foreign companies into the US Market during the Bush era all in the name of privitization of governments services.
Lets face it all online gaming companies are from foreign countries since their inception, only Full Titl Poker and Ultimate Bet were created in the US and we all know how they turned out
Conservatives dont want any online poker period and they pine for the days when Stud poker was banned because it was considered a game of chance not a game of skill but that's an arguement for another day
Perhaps our conservative will get what he wants and Govenor Christie will veto the Online Poker Bill, Pokerstars wont buy the Atlantic Casino, The gaming industry will start to go broke with on Casino toppling after another as a result of lower turnouts in poker tournaments and given that half of all poker players are involve in the stock market (a comforting thought)
the Financial Industry will go into another crisis but this time Congress will refuse to bail them out
Conservatives have a good thing going deny our financial industry is in trouble and when we have a serious crisis blame it on the Obama Administration all for the purpose of putting another Bush in the White House so Republicans can try to make things better or more likely make things even worse.
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Online Poker Lobbyists Will Shift Focus from Federal to State-by-State Platform in 2013 (4)While I think the focus on state level is long overdue and do not think we should abandon a federal effort on Online Poker
A state by state effort will be a long slong and efforts to legalize online poker will happen much slower than many people realize especially given the nature of many state legislatures these days.
I also think we cannot rely on the Poker Players Alliance, or the American Gaming Associates to do our bidding for us.
Perphaps the most important thing that has to happen is that we will have to change the make up of both the US Congress and the State governments in the 2014 election in electing a congress and state legslatures that are more receptive to the game of poker in general
Poker Players are going to start using their poker skills in the politcial area, that may mean playing less poker and spending more time with politcial activism and stop relying on the PPA and the AGA to do their bidding for them.
Remember Congress and the State Legslatures are full of Fish, Chips and alot of Dead Money which is the staple of poker players diet so Send In The Sharks
Regarding California and other western states we must using the initiative and refereredem process to get poker legislation past. Sure Washignton has strict anti online poker prohibitions but voters just legialize marijuanna those prohibitions could be reversed by the voters so what are we wating for, here's an opportunity staring us straight in the eye so we should be pursuing it agrressively the same with the state of Colorado.
In the end it is up to us to practice in politics what we preach on the felt
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Report: Efforts to Pass U.S. Federal Online Poker Bill in 2012 Expire (5)Trying to attach an Online Poker another piece of legislation was always an unrealistic and wrongheaded approach to take since the issue like was always too big to begin with, and like the affordable care has to pass or fail on its own merits.
Trying to attach a Federal Online Gaming Bill on any last minute legislation would be like trying to tow an 18 Wheel Tractor Trailer with a Smart Car or a Scion IQ
The Reid Kyl bill also had to many nonstarters most notibly the Pokerstars Fulltilt banishment for 5 years. Pokerstars/Tilt is just simply too big to banish just like HSBC bank was too big to prosecute for numerous violations of federal law and conservatives feared that this would obivously lead to a political and legal assault on large international corperations like AB-In Bev and moderates and liberals also fear that such actions would threaten the global economy and possilby throw is another recession or worse.
We do need a federal online gaming bill one that allows for free competetion, fair taxation, and generates revenue for both the states and federal government and we need one that will have an infrastructure that will be ready by January 1 2014 which is when all the big legislation like the affordable care act go into effect or we could be faced with a liquidity and equity crisis and without an federal online poker infrastucture the gaming industry and states like Neveda, California, and New Jersey will go broke and Wall Street wont be far behind since many poker players are stockbrokers who use the poker bankrolls to make investments in the market.
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Report: PokerStars Interested in Purchasing Atlantic City Casino to Reenter U.S. (4)Whn it comes to poker legislation, Bill, New Jersey online poker bill is a good example of what an online poker bill should look lijke by allowing for open competition, setting up an online poker infrastructure without the use of taxpayer funds, by providing players with the best online gaming options available at the lowest cost is a good why govenor Christie should sign this bill into law.
In contrast the Reid Kyl bill which does not allow for open competition, does not address the issue of setting up a poker infrastructure, would be a taxpayer give away to the big casino and would offer the least amount of online gaming options at the most absorbenet cost is a good reason why President Obama should veto the Reid Kyl bill in its current form.
I always like Pokerstars which is the best online gaming room out there and as long as the move to purchase the Atlantic Casino saves jobs in the short run and creats jobs in the long bring pokerstars in is a good deal for both New Jersey and could be a great deal for the US Marker at large
Right now Pokerstars is the only company out capable of providing the US Market with the infrastructure for online gaming it needs at little or no cost. No other company can or is willing to do that without a US government handout that will no doulbt entail taxpayer dollars.
Thats why I think New Jersey is taking the most realistic approach to online gaming why our lawmakers in Washington DC craft bad legislation that is devoid of reality.
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The Nightly Turbo: Phil Galfond's Poker Training Site, PokerStars Eyes Return to U.S. (2)While I agree with suvivorman that we need a truly American sites service all states who choose to participate, I think not letting Pokerstars back in would be like not letting foreign players play at the WSOP and other American Tourniments and if we lock international sites out of our market they will lock us out of the rest of the world market and the game of poker would suffer as a result.
Personally i always liked playing on stars and they were the best site to play on at the time I would venture to still the best site out there today.
Would I like to see Stars comeback? Yes but there would be a few caveats one they would either have to have a land based casino operation in this country or they would have to set up technical support staff in the US to solve customer issues and more importantly employ American citizens.
And with the exception of Bovada (UB and Absolute Poker are history) we should encourage sites who are currently offering real money games to come in from the could once a licensing regime is set up.
Its seems with its possible purchase of the Atlantic Casino Pokerstars would meet the caveats needed for a return to the US Market and buying a failing casino would not only allow people to play on there favorite site but would also save US jobs which are still important in this fragile recovery.
Again I will say this Pokerstars is the best site out there and they set the bar pretty high, having said that I always would like to see something come from the US Market thats even better and I believe it can happen but it would happen overnight and the likely of homegrown online pokerrooms that are even better than stars are years away.
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The Nightly Turbo: A-List Celebs Play Poker Tourney, New Jersey iGaming Bill Advances (1)Not Coming to Online Pokers Rescue: The American Gaming Association Pushes A Bill That Is Bad For The Economy and .
Bad For Poker As Well
I think by now we all know how most people fell about the Reid Kyl Bill simply titled :Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2012, as you can tell I am being sarcastic basically they are fiercely opposed to this bill like myself. If the video by the American Gaming Association was intented to say our opinion in favor of this legislation it failed in fact I am more opposed to this bill now than i was before I saw the video. But this video isn't for skeptics in the real world its for the Senators, Congressmen and the lobbyist who may or may not fund there campaigns depending on how they will vote.
Without going into to much detail here is what I think is wrong with the Reid Kyl Bill and why its a nonstarter from the get go.
1.) Without a national framework online gaming would not expand as fast as the AGA contends and within a period of 4 years you would probably see at most 28 states taking up online gaming mostly selling lottery tickets
2.)This bill would inhibit the states ablility to raise the much needed revenue in order to balance there budgets and pay for healthcare
3.)Under the Reid Kyl bill the states that choose to opt in would only be offering intrastate poker with a very narrow liquidity pool and very few gaming choices
4.)The is a transfer of wealth scheme in which states whose choose to opt in would end up giving their revenue to states like Neveda, California, and New Jersey instead of a revenue sharing model
5.)Infrastructure, we currently have no online poker industry and infrastructure to begin with and without participation from companies like Pokerstars-Full Tilt, Bwin-Party Poker of 888 Holdings setting up such an infrastucture will be very expensive with negative EV in the foreseeable future
6.)Who Pays for the infrastucture then, the Federal Government, the Gaming Corporations, of more likely the taxpayers and who then benefits if the taxpayer pay for it the taxpayer of th Gaming Corporations
7.) This bill creates an online poker monopoly run by the big gaming corporations backed by US taxpayer dollars(more welfare for the rich) and inhibits and prevents startup companies from entering the market, Start Up companies are the main producers of jobs in this country
8.) Online Poker is an enhancement to live poker not a replacement and for any online poker bill to be acceptable it must lead to creating new jobs not eliminating currents jobs.
Online poker was meant to introduce people to the game of poker at minimal cost so people could learn and develope their skills without going broke it was never meant to replace casino poker.
9.) The bills blackout and banishment provisions by locking out poker rooms like Stars, Tilt, Party & 888 and possilbly the professional players who endorsed those sites could be unconstitutional and could also start and international trade war when the world economy least needs one.
10.) History; With his reelection President Obama will look for second term accomplishments and while legalizing online poker could be one of them given is opposition on the Stop Online Piracy Act there is no way he will want to sign a bill titled
Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2012 I dont belive President Obama wants to going in history and signing on Internet Prohibition bill and for this bill in its current form to get the Presidents signature it will have to be titled Internet Gambling Legalization, Licensing, Poker Consumer Proctection and Repeal UIGEA Act of 2012. But it would never passed in Congress, I guess they'll have to work or a real online poker bill
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The Nightly Turbo: Doyle Calls for Poker Clock, Reid/Kyl Bill Losing Momentum, and More (5)Reid-Kyl Billing Faltering: Commentary
The main reason this bill is failing is in its curent state it is not garnering any support from members of both parties, the poker community, the internet community, the financial community and state governments and raises constitutionial and trade war concerns which would be counter productive. And to make matters worse there seems to be a lack of trasparencey or discussion on this bill be many find disconserting.
Some see this poker bill as a government takeover of online poker which is hardley the case,while others more legitimate see this a casino monopoly bill that would start a government trend of protecting corporate monopolies not just in th gaming world but the internet in general stiffling small business growth, which has been the main concern of Doug Walker(The Nostalgia Critic) who points out that most economic growth comes from small business internet start ups not big Hollywood studios, Las Vegas Casinos or Wall Street banks
State Governments oppose this bill because it would hinder there ability to raise revenue and offers no incentive to take part in a national internet gaming. This bill does not address how an internet poker infrastructure is going to be set up and who is going to pay for it and worse any rate of return on state government or federal government investment would be too far into the future and given will be have to reduce the deficit, the national debt and pay for affordable health care act a very unappealing proposition
And then there is the issue of when we would start playing poker online again if this bill were to pass in all of its ingloriousness and that would be in 2 1/2 years depending on what state you live in and assuming there are states that choose to Opt In, and if we are lucky in 5 years you might be able to play on PStars-FTilt, Bwin-Party Poker or 888 Holdings that assuming the EU doesnt lock US Poker Rooms out for us locking EU poker rooms in other word a trade war which could only be resolved through an internationial treaty which would take 2/3 of the US Senate to ratify and all the parliments in Europe to agree on as well, Good Luck on that one.
Finally there the bills coauthor Jon Kyl who didn't really change his position on poker its not like he was against it before he was for it, his position is more like Steve Colberts better Tommorrow Tommorrow; John Kyl position is clear he doesnt oppose online poker tommorrow, he just opposes it today and fear not Senator Jon Kyls position will be the same tommorrow as it is today and the next day after that and the next after that forever and impurpituity
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Test Your Poker Skills at SkillBet.com (3)Okay here's one we both have pocket A's and the 5 computerized players enter the pot
We both move All In and you get your Aces Cracked while I win $100.00 and guess what you also owe me $100.00 Sucker
So this is what legal poker is going to look like
You could go broke faster playing this than playing a $10.00 per hand game of 3 card poker at a casino
Where is the skill
Skillbet, they should really call this Shillbet Poker
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What are Online Poker's Chances During the Congressional Lame-Duck Session? (3)The issue itself may be to big for a lame duck session plus while they are trying to sell this bill to a Republication House and a reduction of individual freedom to get to pass, they will then have to sell it to the President as an expansion of individual liberty and economic freedom oh and yes revenue enhancement to get the President to sign it into law which is a virtual impossibilty which guarentees the Reid Kyls poker bills failure.
Given the all the problems with this bill and they are many and the lack of transparency involved the only way you can get this bill put into law is if you call it RepealUIGEA 2012 which is not.
The Reid Kyl bill does not expand freedom, does promote economic growth, or raise the revenue needed to reduce the deficit, in fact it does the opposite.
The good thing about the Reid Kyl Bill is the blow back they have received for crafting to narrow of a bill which is exactly the opposite of what happen when the affordable craft act was being written up.
More to follow
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The Nightly Turbo: Online Poker Bill Unconstitutional and DOJ's Remission Process (4)Those wanting to play again on Poker Stars, Full Tilt, Party Poker, and 888 Holdings(Pacific Poker) should not assume that an these provisions would be solved with a Supreme Court ruling such a provision of the this Bill as unconstitutionial or that would have happened already.
Also those wanting a poker bill any poker bill need to keep in mind that the current proposed bill might even lock out foreign players from these sites from being bought in to the WSOP and could also cause the European market to retaliate against US companies creating a trade war which could only be resolved through a GAAT3 Treaty and there is no political will on either side of the pond to pass another GAAT treaty
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Opinion: Matthew Kredell Analyzes State Versus Federal Online Poker Legislation (6)This bill like the Affordable Health Care Act is a disaster for the same reasons, lack of competition, lack of liquidity, intrastate pools which the states would be responsible for setting up, and a regressive taxation regime to pay for the intrastate health exchanges that states have to have set up by 2014
Americans want a Single Payer Health Care System and get a Single Player Online Poker System in which the government shills poker players who are dumb enough to play even when the odds are stacked against them just so they can play poker
Off course they dont want Pokerstars in this country not because its a monopoly but because they because they are seen as too Socialistic with there paying out the top 20% of EPT APPT, and LAPT brick and mortor tours. This was an idea proposed by Julian Thew which ended up paying off in dividends, but such an idea is seen unacceptable in this winner take all society
The bottom line is whether we are talking about Online Poker Legislation or National Health Care Legislation any time you put in the hands of the US Senate there bound to screw it up for all of us.
Matthew Kredall makes one good point at the end of the day it doesnt matter what the American People think if an online poker bill is to pass this is it regardless of what Americans think which is sad but true and downright disgusting as well
Like the Affordable Heathcare Act this Online Poker Bill might amount to something wothwhile three decades from now but its hardley worth holding our breaths waiting that long.
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White House Responds to "We The People" Petition on Online Poker (4)The PPA wont believe this response coming from me, the adminstration long delayed response is greatly appreciated if not long overdue, but they are also based on political reality, we might me closer or farther away from the restoration of online poker than we think that depends on a few things for instance, the Senate recently approved a bill to let the US postal service ship wine and beer even if approved would be a good sign for both online poker, the wine and craft beer industry and the US Postal Service but onine beer and wine purchases will still be up to the states. If not approved it could be a giant step backwards in a country that is so socially awkard and inept that it suffers from arrested developement. The crackdown on medical marijuana on the other hand is a bad sign.
Also whether online poker will be better or worse in a post prohibitionist era or about the same will remains to be seen assuming we legalize, and license online poker.
In the end these decisions like all others are based on politcal reality and in the end that depends on us we the voters.
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Utah Gov Signs Anti-Online Gambling Bill; State Opts Out of Any Internet Poker Regulation (6)WOW, WHO DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING;
Not Surprising but Still Alarming
We learned 2 things last week, one was that of the choice of online games to play women prefer playing poker and in fact they may prefer online poker at first over live poker at least until they build their confidence up in the game. The second thing we learned is that the state of Utah wants to Opt Out of any Federal Poker Legislation provided that any legislation that passes will be giving the states the option to Opt Out. This neat little provision is something Arizona Senator Jon Kyl will insist is in any final Federal Poker Bill. There is a serious problem with the Opt Out clauses one it has echoes of States Rights which is basically a code word for the Old Segregationist South. Second given some states past histories to we really want to give states the option of Opting Out. Even though Utah had no past history of racial discrimation it has had a history of discriminating against women and gays. If we start giving the states the option of Opting Out are we then going to giving states the option of Opting Out of A woman’s right to choose if Roe V Wade is overturned and we have to enact Reproductive Rights Act and are we going to let states like Utah opt out Contraception as well. Are we going to let states like Utah Opt Out of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Voting Rights Act of 1965? Sure Utah has had a history of being anti gambling and Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina have had a history of being fiercely segregationist but we didn't let them Opt Out of Federal Civil Rights legislation if we did what would the purpose of having such legislation in the first place. Here what’s wrong with this picture sure Utah is a state that is dominated by the Mormon Church but it is also a part of the Untied States of America and we are one country not 50 little Banana Republics of Feudal Kingdoms, also do you think California can Opt out of the Federal Prohibition of Marijuana? No. Can Wyoming of Vermont Opt Out of Federal legislation that set the drinking age 21 lowering it back down to 18? No. Point yes Utah is a place where they don’t want you to some, drink , use Contraception of gamble but they also have a highly esteemed brewery known as Uinta Brewing which is known for its Oaked Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale which its alcohol content comes in Around 10% abv. Certainly if you can produce high gravity ales in Utah you can have online poker. Also we are talking about repealing a prohibition that has been imposed on the American People not expanding a freedom of a right( OH THANK YOU US GOVERNMENT FOR GIVING ME THE RIGHT TO PLAY POKER) that millions of Americans enjoyed up until recently when the government started prosecuting the online poker rooms and the poker pros who were affiliated with so this is a hard fought battle to restore what was lost and build upon buy 1) Repealing the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 1986 2.) Passage of a Fair Gaming and Licensing Act and the Consumer PC Protection and Security Act which would a.) Legalize and License internet poker rooms b.) Make sure all Gaming Software would be free of viruses, spyware, and malware and be registered with Norton of Macphee as a computer safe c.) Allow for minimal and nonburdenous taxation as a way to raise revenues and finally and most important d.) Contain no Blackout Period of Opt Out Clause for the States, and allow for all citizens of the United States where ever they are to play against whoever they want without Federal, State, or Local Government interference. And finally we are talking about the internet which I know the state of Utah has wanted to regulate and perhaps outlaw since its inception, the internet that one thing that puts the world at our fingertips and that one thing that brings us all together and brings down tyrannical regimes. So you want to Censure the Internet, HELL NO THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT, STATES RIGHTS MY ASS we are one nation, one people, one constitution were all Americans have the same set of rights regardless of what state they live in.
fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American People
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Mississippi Internet Gaming Bill Dies in Committee (1)It’s Mississippi Stupid
Seriously did anybody really think this bill was going to pass? Not Really when you look at what type of legislation the Mississippi state legislature like the Personhood Amendment, which would not only ban abortion, but birth control and in vitro fertilization, this amendment was so broadly and poorly written that it could technically ban procreation out of fear of miscarriages. Do you really think a state government who has a long history of passing legislation like this is serious about internet poker, if you do you ought to give up poker because you don’t know how to read your opponents and you are still playing your cards while others are playing you like Paganini. Plus we all know that intrastate poker is a Great Banana Hoax in which the taxpayers end up paying the tab but that a different commentary for a different day. As I said before and I'll saying it again the only way will get Internet Poker back in America is when we get off our asses and demand that congress repeal the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act and the sooner the better. The longer it takes to repeal this lousy law the harder it will be and the more likely that Americans will be paying poker online, in a bar, at home without fear of reprisals more it will be become a distant memory.
Fighting one small battle in the Governments war on the American People
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An Epic Letdown? (14)I think Flintsword hit the nail on the head for the most part Epic Poker was geared to the top 1% of the poker world , did not have grassroots support from the bottom up. Epic Poker while an intriguing idea was implemented at a bad time right around the time the United States Government through both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security started waging its war on poker and poker players. But if Epic fails it cannot be totally blamed on the US Government. True we have Poker Prohibition going on which is sure to scare off more and more players in the long run and yes brick and mortar casinos will start seeing diminishing returns and poker rooms and the jobs associated with it will start to disappear and be replaced by slot machines. Part of the blame will have to go to the players especially the big name pros who have not rallied for grass roots support to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act. I do not see the Poker Players Alliance pushing for repeal and I am very surprised that the poker community has not harvested the Political will or energy of the Occupy Movement when Occupy of all things fits into the Poker Prohibition narrative very well. I believe we ought to have an Occupy Poker Movement which will would be an organization of poker players built from the ground up of ordinary poker players not poker pros or stars who will fight to end Poker Prohibition by fighting to repeal the UIGEA and legalization and licensing of internet poker as well as recognition of poker as sport like it is in many European countries. The and perhaps after that we can work to rebuild the poker community from the ground up and create Professional Poker Federation and a business model that will be successful for years to come fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American people)
Read more: http://www.pokernews.com/poker-forum/topic8885/
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National Conference of State Legislatures Oppose Federal Regulation of Online Poker (3)Really" Here is the problem I have with respect to the National Conference of State Legislatures saying that legalization should be done on the state level. First a decision was made on a National level when Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act without debate or the consent of the American people so any state legalization and regulation would be in violation of Federal Law, state legislatures know that and they know that licensing and regulation would require a repeal of the UIGEA. As for sovereignty of the states look at what they are doing with regards to abortion rights, free speech rights and voter ID laws but here we go with the old states rights argument again. Do we really want to trust the states to have authority on all of these issues and while we’re at why not throw civil rights decisions in the mix we all know how well the states did with that especially the southern states? Do we really want have a different set of laws for each state this is the 21st Century and we are 1 nation not 50 little banana republic’s or feudal kingdom. Look if you see what going on with all the draconian laws a of these right wing state legislatures are trying to pass you would know that without repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act all this talk about the states taking the lead on online poker is nothing more than a pipe dream. How can you trust the states to legalize Internet Poker when they are working hard to restrict access to abortion and contraception, the answer is you can’t. What the National Conference of State Legislatures which is dominated by right wing Republicans is doing is trying to perpetrate a Great Banana Hoax
What we need is a national framework for Internet Poker one that is fair, protects consumers and the players privacy only can we have serious discussion that turns this pipe dream back into a reality.
(fighting one small battle in the Governments War on the American people)