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EDITORIAL
Poker stall
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California Rep. Mary Bono Mack, chairwoman of the commerce, manufacturing and trade subcommittee, on Tuesday urged Congress to go slow in considering whether to legalize Internet poker. "There's just way too much here that has to be fleshed out to put it into the work of the supercommittee," where sponsors had hoped the tax revenue from re-legalization could help meet a goal of reducing the federal budget deficit by a modest $1.2 trillion.
"We have to find a balance of moving it and balancing the technological problems with the policy problems," Rep. Bono said. "I think to rush it would be a mistake."
Really? Federal cops didn't seem to have wasted a lot of time working on any delicate balancing of the desires of players against the perceived need for regulatory protection when they stepped in to shut down three major online gambling sites in April.
Yes, Congress has certainly demonstrated the dangers of racing an unread statute into law ("so we can find out what's in it," in the famous coinage of Rep. Nancy Pelosi). But as former Sen. Alphonse D'Amato -- who now chairs the 1.2-million strong Poker Players' Alliance -- points out, "Internet poker has not gone away and it is hard to envision a scenario where it will."
Some study and deliberation to avoid unintended consequences? Fine. But while the regulatory technology may need examination, the "policy problems" -- basically, whether adults should be prevented from wagering from the privacy of their homes -- are water under the bridge. The question now is whether players will be left to the vagaries of offshore operators or whether they shall be offered the security of regulation by authorities with decades of experience, and sites branded with such familiar names as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Station Casinos, while state and federal budgets enjoy an infusion of what could be billions of dollars.
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Joe Barton asking for Government regulation of Online Poker and its software thats been developed in India like Party Poker.Gaming Control needs to find out where the software came from and who started the developement before recccomending.What if France wants to market gaming into the state of California? Will States block free trade? Will Nevada block Mexico from having legal regulated Blackjack and sports at every coffee shop? Be careful what you wish for.
Nevada Gaming should create a law that new soft ware has to be created in Nevada. That Party gaming and Poker Stars soft ware can never be used to cheat again. This will create new jobs for Nevada. California should pass a law that forbids outsourcing of Soft Ware has to be Created in California to creat Jobs.Why is this so hard?
Just how are you going to stop collusion? Nevada has sold out to Cheats. Millions of College students lost their Government backed student loans at online Poker. Poker Stars allowed Bots to steal Millions and Nevada Gaming turn their Head.
Both California and Nevada are trying to outsource online Poker and Destoy Nevada Jobs, MGM has Party Poker, WSOP 888 and California Playtech.Where are the Jobs? Just be Honest.This will cost hundreds of Jobs in California and Nevada.
You can not play Poker online in Australia or Russia.
good point mrs. ed, only after the thieves get all the money and don't pay taxes will everyone wake up on this
Internet poker is too easy to manipulate and only transfers money from suckers to sharp gamblers and hustlers. The money and effort should be put towards education. And internet gaming is easy to fix, very easy....;)
Americans are the only people in the world who can't legally play poker on the internet and that's a travesty. I remember a time when Americans where the only people who couldn't drink liquor legally. That didn't work out very well either.
Some more Kool Aid mrs ed and my you look so good in your tinfoil hat!
I thought Government regulation hurt job creation RJ? You are saying that government regulation will create jobs? Let's have the free market. Let anyone set up any Net poker site they want. After a bunch of people are ripped off, then no one will want to play, then there will be no Internet poker. Problem solved. Hooray for the un-regulated free market!