I agree with this. And I too dont like the idea of state only sites. But it is baby steps. I have to wonder if there were legal and regulated access to online sites, would the number of players increase? Idk I can imagine their are ppl out there that dont play online bc of worries such as, idk who i am playing against? Is my money going to be safe? Am I being cheated?..And those that dont want to break the law...or even toe along that line.
I have often wondered if a major site such as pokerstars or full tilt could operate as they do now in a fully legal and regulated operation as the govt will insist. Not saying that they operate in anything less then a professional manor. But a legal online poker industry in the US will tax not only the card rooms but the players winnings as well.
And like it or not, the govt cant tax players who arent from the US and i cant imagine the poker rooms wanting to play taxes on profits from players around the world. Just doesnt make sense to me. I wouldnt do it lol
I imagine US only sites ran by MGM, Harrahs etc. down the road. And my hope is that state only sites will get the snowball rolling, and help iron out the details to fully legal and regulated online poker in the US and make this whole situation go away and playing poker much easier.
People who travel to other countries take money with them (or cards whatever) to pay for expenses, have fun, and buy things. Some things are cheaper than in the US, often due to import taxes and so on, so if you bring these items back, you pay tax or duty on them. And if you played in a foreign casino, and brought more than (I am not sure of the limit, maybe more or less??) $10,000 you would either need to smuggle it and pay the price if caught, or just declare it and pay your tax.
This business model makes sense and is standard. Online poker should be the same way. You cannot demand that
germany will no longer be able to sell German porcelain to Americans unless they set up a shop in the US and sell it only to residents of the state the shop is in.
A transparent deposit and withdrawal method would be a way for Government to oversee how much money is being WON (!) and tax these winning appropriately. If someone takes their hard earned money and takes it overseas and blows it, its their decision - as long as they dont take over a certain amount, this I am pretty sure is $10,000. SO if you lose your 10,000, its your business. If you make money and there is a standard way to regulate online poker, than you pay your taxes on your WINNINGS, and the government is happy.
The main point is the money flowing to the rooms that is not WINNINGS. The Gov. wants their cut here as well. But a regulated system that keeps players playing their neighbors will be a lose/lose situation for all, as not many will be depositing in this situation, and then no one is winning any substantial amount.
If you have already paid your taxes on that deposit, then the Gov. has gotten their cut. The room is an overseas business like any other. There is enough winning going on that a transparent avenue to control this would be the best option for all involved. Gov. gets taxes from the pros, rooms remain open to all, and as a result, more pros and semi pros making more money being taxed. An attractive tax benefit program to rooms that open and pay taxes on US soil could - lol maybe - eventually be an option, although now that I said that , it does sound ridiculously improbable.....
But working out a plan to separate the pros from the recreational players,and setting tax and earning limits would be something worth looking at, but, hey, I guess thats just the dreamer in me talking............
Suggesting that because something is overseas it can't be trusted is possibly indicative of the type of attitude which makes the US so popular worldwide.
^^^^^^ lots of truth there...