Can anyone tell me one reason for banning internet poker that makes sense?
yes, the winnings arent taxed.Can anyone tell me one reason for banning internet poker that makes sense?
yes, the winnings arent taxed.
Plus I could be wrong (not being an American) but aren't online poker players expected to report their winnings to the tax department anyway?
It's not tax on winnings that the government is missing out on - it's licensing fees and tax on company earnings that they're not getting.
It also lacks the regulations and safeguards that are in place for land-based casinos.
Of course these aren't necessarily good reasons to ban internet poker. Instead they're very compelling reasons to regulate and tax it.
As for the argument in the OP I'll be surprised if it flies. Particularly with regard to the current situation people have got to get away from the rights and freedom arguments because they're obviously not working. Whether or not people have any kind of right to play poker online doesn't change the fact that the sites are up on money laundering and bank fraud charges. Economic arguments will need to carry the day here.
Plus anyone who's ever watched a WSOP broadcast knows full well that people with all kinds of disabilities can play poker in a live casino. If they don't have a live casino or card room near them because they're not legal in their state then arguing that they should be allowed to play a game online that's banned live definitely isn't going to work, DUCY?
It's a total no brainer for the government to legalize and tax it. Does that mean our government as a whole is short on brains?
Can anyone show me where it's written that this right exists?
If it's a total no-brainer, how come you don't have live, legal casinos and card rooms in every state?
Much as we hate to admit it there is another side to this debate. That other side needs to be acknowledged and effectively countered in order for any change to happen. Some, for example, will argue that online gambling causes social harm that no amount of regulation can prevent and no amount of revenue can offset. The people with that viewpoint have a lot of votes on their side, BTW.
Still think this is a no-brainer?
While I'm on a rant, let's look briefly at this supposed "right" people have to play online poker. Can anyone show me where it's written that this right exists? If it really was a universal right you'd have live card rooms and casinos in every state, as I mentioned above. Since you don't have these things obviously your government doesn't believe this is a universal right - or if it does, it believes it's one that's trumped by other social concerns.
PS
There's many laws on the books in many areas that are ridiculous and not enforced. Was it really ok to smuggle that banking bill in on the back of a ports bill that had nothing to with it. Doing something like that should be illegal and outlawed. Who do these people think they are sneaking around the middle of the night like that!!!
So my point is don't make this about rights, disabled or otherwise, because you'll lose. And don't ignore or dismiss your opposition because they've got loads of money, votes, the status quo and probably even the moral high ground on you already.
...or sure, I guess you could choose to keep making this about your so-called "rights" and never make any actual progress on the issue.
Obviously I believe you should be allowed to play poker - why would I even be a member on a site like this if I didn't?!? And I've got sympathy for the people that have told their stories in this thread. But what I'm saying is if you try to make this debate one about emotion and rights you will lose.
I think a lot of people, online players in particular, tend to forget that poker is a zero sum game. For you to win money someone else has to lose it. And there are a lot more losers than winners. For every disabled person you can find with a compelling story about how it should be their right to play a game of skill on the internet for money the opposition can find a dozen stories like this:
"My name is John and internet poker ruined my life. I just played for fun at first but I ended up losing a lot of money. I was addicted. I tried to stop playing but the sites kept sending me e-mails offering me bonuses to deposit more money and keep playing. I ended up losing my house, my job and my family. Ban internet poker to stop more people ending up like me."I made that up off the top of my head but I guarantee you there are real people out there willing to tell that story. Put your emotional stories up against that one and which do you think will win?
Revenue. Tax the company earnings so at least the government can do something positive with the money that's being spent. Use it to build roads, pay off national debt or whatever else government does with the money it makes from things like state lotteries.
Regulation. For the protection of players and for people like "John". These are arguments that might get you somewhere.
ROFL, i just pictured a ouht park image right there... lolTIMMY!!