When will online poker ever be legalized?

A

anthony c

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Total posts
174
Awards
1
Chips
2
What is the latest news on online poker ever be legalized in America and South Africa?? whats the odds that before or in the year 2017 that poker could be legalized in theses countries?


When will online poker ever be legalized in America??What i just cant understand that real casino's you can poker on but online it's band. It's like selling drugs on the street is ok but online it's banned, wtf it just does not make sense.

What about those people that worked for 10+ year that they learned and work hard and it's all taken away from them and all there hard work is gone down the drain

This under 18 years play online is a bs story as they can play underage at regular casino's too

There is so much money to be made for America and other lands like south Africa from poker and poker taxes if it just get regulated. Problem is South Africa is waiting for america to legalize poker then we would jump in.

Sad that i cant even play the game i love and worked hard for been stripped away for nothing, just makes me sick...:mad:
 
AlyLauren

AlyLauren

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 22, 2015
Total posts
138
Chips
0
It will surely be a long process, its nots just America and Africa who does experience the same thing a lot of countries is still working on he legalization of casino gambling. I guess it will be a long process.
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Total posts
4,734
Awards
14
Chips
77
think we are a long ways off in america, but if individual states keep showing good tax revs....then maybe we get a federal solution
 
jgreenman18

jgreenman18

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 26, 2016
Total posts
173
Chips
0
I think there just needs to be one push of legislation through the house of representatives. I am sure if any of the politicians can get the right price from legalizing it will be passed but it will be a grind.
 
Abramo Della Luce

Abramo Della Luce

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Total posts
498
Awards
4
Chips
0
I have been thinking about this stuff too, lately. It's just absurd.
They say it's to protect the people (from themselves?) as if they cannot lose a lot playing live.
People have it as a job and from one day to the other it's illegal! It's like if my job I have now would be illegal tomorrow. A government shouldn't be busy with deciding about what people want to spend money on, especially not if it can create an income too. It's not like people are forced to play. People should have the freedom and no government should be allowed to take this freedom away.
Here in Belgium I'm relatively lucky that a few rooms are legal. Still I see great promotions from other rooms in adds and on the forum, but when I click on it I reach a site from the government and 'ecops' that I'm trying to reach an illegal site. I don't even have the option to investigate the sites that are from banned rooms because of this censorship that belongs more in some kind of totalitarian regime and not in a democracy where these freedoms should be the rights that are protected.
I don't see any reason why poker should be (partially) banned. If someone does, please enlighten me.

Sorry for the rant, but it's just some thing that frustrates me.
 
diablo8

diablo8

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Total posts
25
Chips
0
This is a great question and one that we are all talking about. Like everything, this will be a process but I hope it's sooner then later.
 
M

MidMoMan

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 3, 2016
Total posts
532
Chips
0
What I don't understand is how states and feds can legalize fantasy football but not Online Poker. Makes no sense to me.

While I'm on the subject; why the hell do some states ban WPT site. This is a subscription site, similar to online gaming sites, or Zynga Poker. Please explain to me the logic of this.
 
quick

quick

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Total posts
1,348
Awards
1
Chips
67
What I don't understand is how states and feds can legalize fantasy football but not Online Poker. Makes no sense to me.

While I'm on the subject; why the hell do some states ban WPT site. This is a subscription site, similar to online gaming sites, or Zynga Poker. Please explain to me the logic of this.

My guess is it has something to do with money. I'm guessing the NFL has some role in ensuring fantasy football remains viable as it's a great way to generate more interest and income into their organization. Sure the wsop can do that with ESPN and a lot of websites but I'm guessing the amount of money in fantasy football trumps the money in online poker esp after Black Friday in America. Only now are some states waking up to the reality that fantasy sports betting could be more of a black eye on a state than the revenue.

Since many poker sites operate off shore my guess is the tax codes of the US aren't always applicable. It also might be harder to prove an American citizen made their money off an online poker site and if so were they playing in another country?

It's pretty much the marijuana paradox. Illegal and severe penalties one day, now suddenly more and more states are legalizing it and raking in tax dollars.


And then there's the issue of how profitable is online poker versus other forms of online gambling. Just like how in casinos poker rooms probably generate the least amount of revenue compared to slots and table games, same is true online. Some states in the US now allow online poker within the state BUT most of them are run by in state casinos which are likely pushing more the "virtual" gambling experience rather than the virtual competition experience. Imagine the difference in tax revenue on a site raking in money off virtual slots and virtual blackjack versus virtual poker.

People are kidding themselves if they think it's simply because poker wrongly gets lumped into the same type of "gambling" as slots, table games, and lotteries. It's because just like in a casino, the profits for the organization are less from poker than from the actual mostly Luck based games.
 
J

joe cassidy

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Total posts
2
Chips
0
Slowly but surely

I believe we are slowly getting back because 3 states are already legal. Its a matter of time before they figure a way to properly regulate online gambling. Taxes and proper regulation is all they need. I mean look at weed, its becoming more and more legal and the increased in tax revenue from it shows the government can tolerate it. Online Poker Vs. Weed, Online poker should've been legal way before that.:deal:
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
Online Poker Vs. Weed, Online poker should've been legal way before that.:deal:

If online poker had even just the potential to match the revenues weed is producing, we would have been there already I'm sure.

Alas, just no money in it
 
dj11

dj11

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Total posts
23,189
Awards
9
Chips
0
If online poker had even just the potential to match the revenues weed is producing, we would have been there already I'm sure.

Alas, just no money in it

For the states to make the kind of money some folks talk about, the sites would have to rake us death.

Keep in mind that only a few states have laws against poker, live or online. It is moving the money around that is the problem.

The biggest reason online poker even had a boom is because in those early year of the internet no one had much of any idea how much commerce would happen. Governments were not involved at all, The whole world (almost) gave the internet and everything on it a free ride.

They were heady days. sigh!:(
 
diablo8

diablo8

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Total posts
25
Chips
0
For the states to make the kind of money some folks talk about, the sites would have to rake us death.

Keep in mind that only a few states have laws against poker, live or online. It is moving the money around that is the problem.

The biggest reason online poker even had a boom is because in those early year of the internet no one had much of any idea how much commerce would happen. Governments were not involved at all, The whole world (almost) gave the internet and everything on it a free ride.

They were heady days. sigh!:(

Great point. I find it funny how I can go out and blow money on lottery tickets, scratch offs, now sports betting (here in NY), or even open a stock trading account and purchase risky investments like penny stocks and options, but we can't deposit a couple bucks (legally) and just play some cards.. :mad:
 
M

MidMoMan

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 3, 2016
Total posts
532
Chips
0
I agree with all sentiments stated here.
Even worse; here in the State of Missouri (USA), we are not allowed to 'subscribe' to WPT!!! It's subscription based, no betting, yet it is not permitted in Missouri. I'm working to find the statute, law, or regulation that prohibits WPT from enrolling Missouri taxpayers.

It's total BS that WPT is banned in Missouri!!
 
J

JKKeys45

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Total posts
59
Chips
0
Will be state-by-state, unlikely to have any federal solution in the States.
 
Terrilyn Lee

Terrilyn Lee

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 12, 2016
Total posts
3
Chips
0
Great question?

This is a great question and one that we are all talking about. Like everything, this will be a process but I hope it's sooner then later.

Yep, I am completely agree with your point of view, it's really hard and great question which requires efforts from all sides and members. We can only hope to speed up the process.
 
S

Samsamsonite

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Total posts
33
Chips
0
legalized poker

REALLY? you guys still don't know why black friday happened?! one name:Sheldon Adelson. read on it. hope you get as mad as me why only Americans(land of the free) can't play TEXAS???!!! hold em! sorry. got carried off
 
S

Samsamsonite

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Total posts
33
Chips
0
think we are a long ways off in america, but if individual states keep showing good tax revs....then maybe we get a federal solution
one name:SHELDON ADELSON. read on it.hope you get mad as I did.
 
T

Two6JJ

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Total posts
746
Chips
0
As long as people like Sheldon Adelson have money they will continue to buy regulation in their favour to make sure people are playing poker at his casino's.
 
dbchristy

dbchristy

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 27, 2015
Total posts
1,158
Chips
0
When the IRS figures out how to maximize their profit or some crap like that. Save us from oursleves..shaking my head
 
thechamp5

thechamp5

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 21, 2016
Total posts
102
Chips
0
If online poker had even just the potential to match the revenues weed is producing, we would have been there already I'm sure.

Alas, just no money in it
You are correct sir, the top online casinos only made 16.5 million in NJ (poker only making up 2 million. While weed almost produced 1 billion in sales. The difference is $2 million in taxes vs. $53 million. Money talks. I do have to say some of that billion has to be a bit of a gold rush. People aren't going to rush NJ to play online poker when they can play live at a closer casino, but the difference is a bit staggering.

References:

https://www.playnj.com/new-jersey/revenue/
http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/12/news/economy/colorado-marijuana-tax-revenue/
 
ayo

ayo

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 29, 2016
Total posts
396
Chips
0
OMG. I didnt know it was ilegal in américa. Does it include south américa?What if I won Money. Am I wasting my time playing póker online? . Now, I am really confused. Please, somebody explain me. Thanks.
 
Abramo Della Luce

Abramo Della Luce

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Total posts
498
Awards
4
Chips
0
OMG. I didnt know it was ilegal in américa. Does it include south américa?What if I won Money. Am I wasting my time playing póker online? . Now, I am really confused. Please, somebody explain me. Thanks.
With America people mean USA. Whole continents usually don't make laws together, so in canada is different and every South American country will be different too. I believe that in brazil for instance there is no real laws about online poker, so you could basically play in all rooms there.
 
dj11

dj11

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Total posts
23,189
Awards
9
Chips
0
OMG. I didnt know it was ilegal in américa. Does it include south américa?What if I won Money. Am I wasting my time playing póker online? . Now, I am really confused. Please, somebody explain me. Thanks.

IT IS NOT ILLEGAL IN THE US! There are a couple of States where it is illegal, and only 3 right now where it is regulated. There are several sites still serving the players in the US.

The problem is getting money on to, and off of any poker site except in those 3 states where it is regulated. The problem there is that the regulated sites are not drawing the critical mass necessary to be considered healthy. It will take a few more years, and several more states who all share the combined player pool for that 'health' to be achieved.

In the meantime, US players are enjoying the game and honing our skills.
 
Top