Tough Times ahead for US players?

[Jerm98]

If you think about that:


"If it does go through American's will be limited to playing legally at casinos, Indian reservations, and with friends (well sort of with friends)"

That really makes me think that US is becoming Communist country simply JUST to ban for us to gamble one cent, nickel, or any bills we have in our wallets. I'd agree with previous threads that they are treating us like children rather than being adults. Poker is PART of our source income, win/lose, win/win or lose/lose. Poker is the game of skill, not gambling like other poker pros comments.

My honest answer to this - UIGEA is one of the most BS law I have ever heard in my life in US - this law is really a JOKE and it should be removed at all cost !

 

[syko9882]

I work for a rather large "bank" and here is what we are doing. The only thing we are required to do right now is monitor business accounts closely and add a "Do not use your account for internet gambling" disclosure for non business accounts.

As for checks from online gambling sites, it is not a big deal. No memos were sent out and if they do anything it would be a 10 day hold on your check.

I spoke directly to my compliance officer and she stated it is mainly directed at business accounts.

 

[Vex444]

Heres a way to get them voted on.
How about sneaking them in attached to another bill, and have them voted on at the end of the day when everyone is tired and wants to got home?
Just a thought.

LOL GOOD ONE! Think this has been done before. :wink:

 

[jolietdusty]

I believe a bill will get passed within the next 6 months but at what costs. It has been cited here about how sad it is to pay E-wallets 10%. Do you really believe the US will allow online poker with less than a 10% tax, I know I don't. This is a time where the status quo might just be the best for most.

 

[yourguynow]

Basically, under the present law, I can drive to an Indian reservation (or anywhere in Nevada) gamble in person, get free drinks, and risk everyone on the road as I drive 2 hours back home, short on sleep, and probably a bit on the tipsy side. Pretty big risk but if any damage occurs, I am liable for the damage but was perfectly legal to gamble. On the other side, if I sit in my home, play on line, drink, and when I finish.. turn off the computer and go to sleep (risking no danger to others on the road) I am a criminal. Something wrong there..

 

[valientone]

this is an issue i think that online gambling sites need to touch up on, and make clear to the public what the potential risks and draw backs are..

 

[pokerjdud]

Have no fear. First, if you need a way to deposit , there is a store called Checksmart who offer prepaid debit cards for $9.99, I know there located alot on the East Coast, but anyhow...this card is flawless, it works everywhere. I have one being as I use BB & T and the onl site that works on is bodog, and Im really not a fan of that site any longer. Cashouts are simple, most banks will still cash the checks, however if you have a problem go to Wal Mart. They will take 3 bucks. No issue, The US knows that if they push the issue any farther, its gonna be a problem.

 

[brett987]

they can try to make a law but no way they can stop 40 million people playing online

 

[Tom1559]

The USA guys seem to be getting a real tough time over internet poker. In the UK and Europe we get a real easy time. I feel for you guys on this. It seems to be an ongoing threat you are all under. Good luck I hope you government gets things sorted and allows you all to continue playing.

 

[kidkvno1]

http://www.youtube.com/pokerplayersalliance#p/a/u/0/ffDcUppkkhA
They are working on it..

 

[Maid Marian]

I will continue to play until I can no longer do so. If my money is ever in danger, I will remove it all. But NOT until then. This is not something I will worry about for now.
On another note, the USA is really close to being a Socialist country...bordering on Communist, if we don't wake up now. Yes, we need Health Care reform, but we don't need our government controlling it again! The last time they did that was using DRG's(Diagnosis Related Guidelines) that was to regulate the cost of Medicare. It required a patient to stay in the hospital for X # of days per Diagnosis. It also made the Hospitals pay for any days over that, even if the patient was still too ill to go home!
That was the downfall of the Medical System then & if our government has control again, it will spell the end of great Health care here. Doctors & Nurses will quit because their incomes will be very low...we got the influx of MD's & RN's from England & canada when they adopted this system. They will have nowhere to go!
If they have control of online poker, I doubt they will stop unless we all speak up! We all need to speak up...send e-mails to your representatives. Tell them we demand our freedom on this. If we don't, they'll never know our wishes! If you don't complain to them, you have no right to whine about it later! Later will be too late!
Sorry this is so long...just had to get this off my chest!

 

[KevinLush]

Its amazing how America seems to do so many things different than almost the rest of the world. inches instead of meters, driving on the right side of road, dollars instead of euros (or similar productive system), USA even starts their students learning a second language many years after many other countries. There are probably many more things they differ in. If you have any others please elaborate.

 

[DaBigBoss]

whats this about walmart cashing out of country checks for 3 bucks? whats the limit on a international check?

 

[always2away]

This whole UIGEA thing was the opening salvo to get Americans to beg the government to regulate and tax internet gaming rather than ban it.

Does it matter that the USG does not have the authority to ban internet activity, or that the wire act itself is constitutionally suspicious. Nah, the USG of the last few decades does lots and lots of unconstitutional stuff...that is right... I said stuff.

Three fourths of the current activities enforced by the Executive are unconstitutional. It takes several years and bunches of cash to challenge UC laws, and when you figure out that SCOTUS only hears about 10% of the cases that come before it, well, you have what amounts to anarchy arising from within government itself.

Would you like a glaring example? It took an amendment to the Constitution of the united states of America to ban ALCOHOL. It then took another to make it legal. What constitutional authority exists to wage the "war on drugs"? None. Just the willingness of the governed to look the other way, because it is the right thing to do. Slippery slope?...uh, duh.

 

[moemtg]

Wow... I just ran into this problem today!

Just amazing... I have just tried to deposit on FullTilt poker from my mastercard.. now keep in mind I have been depositing from this card for 6 months now... And all of a sudden I have hit a brick wall... I contacted support and one rep stated that it has been an increasing problem and he asked me if it was Wells Fargo Card because they have been having problems with it... well its not a wells Fargo card it is from another financial institution so I guess in the past week they enforced this new rule...

I'll be damned... I can't register with click 2 pay which is my only other option cause they say they aren't registering new users?

So all in all my day has been a dissapointment... I guess I will have to withdraw money and put it on my ALL ACCESS card since these are the only cards that seems to work anymore...

Ughhh what a nightmare,
Moe

 

[kybcat]

Government messing with stuff they should not

 

[mig2169]

It is not about the US getting tough on internet poker, or some congressman wanting to shut down gambling, it is like everything else this country stands for MONEY. The US gov is not making money off these sites that are over seas and wants a piece of the action, and if they can't get a piece they will try to shut it down. Make pot legal and gambling legal and u have ur health care solved for the next 1000 years.

 

[wagon596]

Heard on a certain radio show, that it could be 5 to 10 years before regulated poker sites are coming to the USA. That there was more pressing things in DC,,,such as the goverament taking control of everything we do..... I forget was it Obama or Stalin that was elected ? Oh well doesn't really matter, they are one and the same !
Just my thoughts

 

[testreet]

I don't know about gambling because I don't believe poker is a gamble it's a sport that includes the risk and reward of money. To me they can take everything away just don't touch poker you drooling politic baffoons

 

[KetchupFreak]

For players having trouble a visa All Access unreloadable card could work. Its prepaid and can only be loaded once, and are available at cvs, walgreens stores such as those. I believe the card cost runs around $4.95.. depends on where its purchased. I also dont think the ban is about them not making money. A bill was introduced this year that would set up a taxing system on online gaming. I dont see why its not, if people have budgeted out how much theyre gonna gamble for the week, month, whatever it is then they're likely gonna gamble it. Its just one less option people have.. and it infuriates me to see $10 and $20 scratch offs.. the govermnet is saying its okay to take a chance on that but not to test your skill at online poker... its ridicolous and hypocritical. Making it accessable for US players could offer some help to protect the players from "scam" sites or offer other options such as US based online casinos. I know where i live there are two indian run casinos which pay revenue percentage to the state. Not a bad thought for online gaming as well...

 

[Jerm98]

Right ! USA gov't can't control all of US poker players and stop us from playing the true GAME of skill. poker game is not considered gambling if you have the finesse, skills and patience and you'll get there. USA Gov't don't see it that way and if I knew someone who lives outside USA I would move right away simply because I can't play poker here. POKER is my game, nothing else. Screw USA gov't!

 

[DaBigBoss]

Does anyone know about or have experience cashing overseas checks

without a bank acount by means of either walmart or other forms?

how do they verify these checks are good .

reason being all those scam checks sent via africa for the Sucker to cash

and send back . I highly dought that walmart cashes poker checks but

would be nice to know where .

 

[sharkyo01]

I love the UK for gambling all Tax Free

 

[RedEe]

Fulltilt recently put pressure on player withdrawal checks. After mailing a check Fulltilt sent a notice not to cash it and recredited the players account but the check was already deposited. Then, Fulltilt sent notice to hurry and deposit the check, which I'm thinking has to do with the UIGEA bank compliance deadline of December 1, 2009. This happened twice to one player for over $500 and once with another. In effect, Fulltilt doubled up these players during the withdrawal process.

So I did some investigation on the UIGEA bank compliance deadline of December 1, 2009 and this it what I found.

Banks cannot accommodate 'commercial' customers with gambling transactions but 'individual' accounts are not under scrutiny.

Banks must block restricted transactions or pay a penalty. I still cannot find how much is the penalty. If the penalty is minimal the banks may not even regard it. Blocked restrictions include debit and credit transactions for gambling.

UIGEA section 802 subchapter 5362 specifically states the definition of a BET (E)(iii) DOES NOT INCLUDE any over-the-counter derivative instrument.

I understand this to mean that our withdrawal checks are explicitly excluded from the bank compliance enforcement. I hope this is correct.

 

[AceZWylD]

OK. So, this bill sucks. We know that. But does it really change a single thing about how we go about playing online poker on a day in and day out basis? Not at all. Here are a couple of things to consider.

1) The bill does not define what is considered illegal online gambling is...So, at that point it becomes a question of "is this a bill that can be enforced by the US Government?". The answer is, no. Without defining what is considered to be online gambling, there is a lot of room for interpretation of the rule. And by definition, poker is a game of skill while offering no advantage to the house. Most forms of gambling are games where you are playing against unfavorable odds being offered by the house. Poker is not that game. Without definition of the law, Poker is an unenforcable entity.

2) I recently made a deposit on Full Tilt and Ultimate Bet using my debit card. Not only were both transactions successful, neither transaction stated exactly what the transaction was going toward. Where previous deposits have said "Full Tilt" or "Ultimate Bet" in the transaction description, both of my recent deposits were masked under a unique transaction description that had absolutely nothing to do with either website or it's affiliates. So, as the day draws nearer for possible enforcement of this act, the gaming sites themselves are becoming more astute of how to get around this legislation.

3) Has anyone recieved a check from one of these sites following a withdrawl? The check is drawn directly from the sites bank, not from the website itself. So, you are not recieving a check from Ultimate Bet, you are recieving a check from Ultimate Bet's bank without Ultimate Bet being listed as the source for payment. Oh, and by the way, the 2 checks I have recieved from Ultimate Bet have been drawn in the State of California, so these are not international checks that are being cashed.

So, while the day of possible enforcement draws nearer, in lite of all information available to us at this time, I don't see a reason to panic. It will take a while for the government to get this bill right (if at all), and international websites are becoming increasingly aware of the loopholes in the system.

But, I do encourage everyone to write their State Representative. The issue here appears to be either taxation (which can be solved) and the risk of investment by problem gamblers (which happens at casino's just the same). Ask your cogressman how Poker is different than any other game of skill. There is an investment required (buy in) just like there is an investment for football (shoes, helmet, pads, etc) or baseball (mit, shoes, bat, etc). There is time spent just like there is in any other game. The basis for passage of this bill is asinine, and our goverment needs to hear how passage of this bill is infringement of our rights.