Legality of Online Poker: U.S.

So its really confusing trying to understand the legality of online poker in the United States and the states own personal laws. So is online poker specifically Texas Hold'em legal in the United States. Also is it legal in the state of New York, I've read numerous articles and they all seem to be contradicting one another.

Thank You:icon_salu

It is legal in the States, what is illegal is banks funding gambling sites. Some states have their own laws, don't know ablut NY

State Law = Law that only affects the state that issues it
Federal Law = All States are affected by this law.
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poker is legal.

Gambling is not.

Online poker, for money, is illegal(ish) for the poker sites and the bank under federal law.

Online Poker, for players, is a gray area but I don't think its illegal. Under Federal Law.

However because of the good 10th amendment, States can have any law that does not conflict with the Federal government (I'm am really simplifying this down) so a state can choose to make poker illegal in that state. Which is the case in my state, Washington State, where online poker, for money, is a Class C felony.

However, if I were to visit Oregon State, I could play poker with no legal repercussions.

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its been a long time since I've studied this stuff so feel free to correct any mistakes.

Hopefully this year it will be legalized in Vegas and we have our own poker rooms in US, regulated by the government with 100s of auditors. Playing legit US poker will take any doubt away that's its rigged, and I think we will all do much better playing honest poker. Until then, <pause> bad beat. lol

Are u saying poker is rigged against US players? Lol.

I'm still a little confused on the issue since some sites wont even let US players on and some accept US players. Was bummed when FTP went away but there are a few sites I can still play for cash.
Does the site itself get into trouble? Wondering how some get around it,

In Texas the laws are written in such a manner that Poker is not illegal if the game is a tournament and has a prize structure. Ring games are defined as gambling and illegal to play.

Everything above is correct.
But what makes it even more confusing, with the passing of UIGEA and Black Friday you have the World Trade Organization saying the United States is in the wrong..
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobby...a-fights-back-against-reids-online-poker-bill

I really don't think anyone in DC has any idea what the heck is going on.. Maybe the only way to get poker opened back up so we can play at ant site is to slip it in on the shirt tail like UIGEA was done. Just my thoughts

liGreenil said:

So its really confusing trying to understand the legality of online poker in the United States and the states own personal laws. So is online poker specifically Texas Hold'em legal in the United States. Also is it legal in the state of New York, I've read numerous articles and they all seem to be contradicting one another.

Thank You:icon_salu

Click to expand...

This may help clear your question about New York. http://www.gambling-law-us.com/

I found another resource. This one may be easier to understand.

http://www.legalgambling.net/

Poker is a pretty legal/ illegal game itself

I really feel for all our members in the US. What a shambles the authorities have made of poker. I thought the US was meant to be the land of the free but yet the authorities want to dictate to you what you can and cannot do. I envy the lifestyle in the US and would happily move there for a whole number of reasons - pity about the poker.

The whole situation sucks. Especially losing FTP and pokerstars. I have money tied up on FTP still and don't know when or if I'll ever see it. I just recently started playing online poker again with a few USA friendly sites but I haven't deposited anything for fear of the same thing happening so I just stick to freerolls. Has anyone deposited from the USA on these sites or cashed out? I just want to know if I'm wasting my time playing these freerolls to win a few bucks that I might not be able to cash out. And how is it that they're even able to take deposits if it is illegal? Very confusing... wish the government would make up their mind.

poker legalities

I'm in the same boat - lost my poker cash to Full Tilt... I now play a couple of sites but only freerolls to build my account balance enough so I can play in tournaments, I also play on Hog Wild, but haven't won anything from them yet.
I will not depsoit any money into a poker site until I get a definitive ruling on what is legal. I own a small company and could not afford a feloney charge or even the accusation of one.