Run-ins with Police over Online Poker

RogueRivered

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With some US States pretty much banning online gambling, have any of the US players here ever had contact from police over their online poker activities? Or maybe from the IRS? I wonder how the authorities would even go about finding a suspect? Spying on IP addresses maybe. Our local police spy on people's online activity involving child pornography (it's in the newspapers a lot), so I suppose they could expand to poker.
 
MrDaMan

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Naa we don't have the police busting down doors to break up online poker. There's a common saying that goes like this, "Don't steal. The government don't like the competition." As long as the online world don't create a big fuss or start reaping millions of dollars there's no money in it for the extortion. I can play in several online poker venues all of which are small time compared to poker stars/party poker they don't really care. It's the big guns they're looking for, when all of the local casinos, Vegas and Atlantic City agree on who gets how much of the cut THEN online poker will be legal again. Other than that the IRS does monitor any money moving around higher than 10k and make investigative inquiries if they suspect illegal activities and that kind of puts the kabash on the high rollers. So mostly it's meh.
 
CAMurray

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With some US States pretty much banning online gambling, have any of the US players here ever had contact from police over their online poker activities? Or maybe from the IRS? I wonder how the authorities would even go about finding a suspect? Spying on IP addresses maybe. Our local police spy on people's online activity involving child pornography (it's in the newspapers a lot), so I suppose they could expand to poker.

The IRS gave 600 millions in refunds to dead people last year, they have no idea what is going on, let alone time to be chasing us.
 
wilpinsi

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Police banned gambling, this already happens in many states,
I think for them the most important is in the oversight of poker paradise, where many giants not pay their taxes, evasion fiscail to mortals that we are all playing online, I believe tera not risk since you play honestly.
 
lorres1991

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I thought Washington was the only state with a full-on ban on playing online?
 
starting_at_the_bottom

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So why did the US government say they banned online poker transactions?

(and in your opinion what is the real reason?)
 
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RogueRivered

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Here's Oregon's law:

§ 167.122¹
Unlawful gambling in the second degree
(1) A person commits the crime of unlawful gambling in the second degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Places a bet with a bookmaker; or
(b) Participates or engages in unlawful gambling as a player.
(2) Unlawful gambling in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor. [1971 c.743 §264; 1997 c.867 §21]

Now, I'm sure many of these points could be litigated, but the government and police seem so intent on making everyone a criminal, that I just wondered if any overzealous police had tried to pull this one on anyone you know of.
 
RogueRivered

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The IRS gave 600 millions in refunds to dead people last year, they have no idea what is going on, let alone time to be chasing us.

I'm not sure about the details of this or where you found the info, but my first thought is, most dead people have relatives that are entitled to their estate. Keeping refunds would be like a 100% death tax.
 
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TossUpKing

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I've never ever feared this and never ever will. too much legality loopholes and too many people playing to do anything realistic.... plus any site i play on is legal by any means. who wants to do some research and see if any americans were playing on winning player network soon after black friday?
 
CAMurray

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Aceplayer55

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The US government got pokerstars to pay back Full Tilt's players. I got my money back. They aren't interested in prosecuting poker players.
 
RogueRivered

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The US government got PokerStars to pay back Full Tilt's players. I got my money back. They aren't interested in prosecuting poker players.

Right, but the police aren't the prosecutors. They are the suspicious questioners.
 
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seghill

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After your immediate problems it was amazing how many players were suddenly resident in canada - Yeah right
 
Sakolik029

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It seems to me that to ban online poker is a crazy idea,you still will find a way to make online poker legal
 
Roman Romanov

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It's funny and sad, no freedom, they decide for us how we behave and what to do
 
ribbybruno

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Local police are not interested.

Correct! Neither are the judges and lawyers. I play sometimes at a friend's home game with all three professions at the table. :) This one judge is a really good player and usually in the money every time.
 
MediaBLITZ

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Black Friday's shut down was never about going after the guys playing poker, it was about the companies and sites providing the "service" and how they processed funds and ran their business.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, expressed his view when the indictment was unsealed:
"As charged, these defendants (the poker sites) concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits. Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in massive money laundering and bank fraud. Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don’t like simply because they can’t bear to be parted from their profits."
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk added: "These defendants, knowing full well that their business with U.S. customers and U.S. banks was illegal, tried to stack the deck. They lied to banks about the true nature of their business. Then, some of the defendants found banks willing to flout the law for a fee. The defendants bet the house that they could continue their scheme, and they lost."
 
billbaffles

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I read an article somewhere online that stated that the police busted someone for playing poker online. I think it might be a petty offense where i live but im not sure. Im pretty sure its about the sites like full tilt, Pokerstars, and others but there is still ACR, JS, CP, and quite a few others that allow us players to play on the site so who knows.
 
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With some US States pretty much banning online gambling, have any of the US players here ever had contact from police over their online poker activities? Or maybe from the IRS? I wonder how the authorities would even go about finding a suspect? Spying on IP addresses maybe. Our local police spy on people's online activity involving child pornography (it's in the newspapers a lot), so I suppose they could expand to poker.
Never had contact for any online gaming but did have the Maine State Police shut down a live tourney that the American Legion was putting on.
If they do show up and you want to know how to deal with them google "law professor speaking about don't talk to cops". Worth the 44 mins to watch it.:D:D
 
HAMC81

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Police won't come after you unless someone actually calls and tell them you are "gambling ilegally", Could be an angry wife. Lol.
 
Stocky373

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All my life, from everyone and everywhere a listening "USA is country of freedom" but over time i find its lie, in czech republic is more freedom...but USA is biggest company in the world and dreams come true there easier $$$$
No hate, I love USA...NHL, NBA, rap, movies etc
 
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You have a right to privacy in your own home. While I'm not saying things aren't monitored, its a "fruit of the poisoned tree" so it couldn't be used against you.

I think the internet provider is really who could crack down by banning access to certain ip addresses.
 
bullishwwd

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Black Friday's shut down was never about going after the guys playing poker, it was about the companies and sites providing the "service" and how they processed funds and ran their business.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, expressed his view when the indictment was unsealed:
"As charged, these defendants (the poker sites) concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits. Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in massive money laundering and bank fraud. Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don’t like simply because they can’t bear to be parted from their profits."
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk added: "These defendants, knowing full well that their business with U.S. customers and U.S. banks was illegal, tried to stack the deck. They lied to banks about the true nature of their business. Then, some of the defendants found banks willing to flout the law for a fee. The defendants bet the house that they could continue their scheme, and they lost."
Exactly, the "playing of on-line poker" for money itself is not the issue for most states, it's about the transactions to and from.
 
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