Poker Players Go To Washington D.c.

[Jdr999 0]

Poker players want honest dealBy Rowan ScarboroughTHE WASHINGTON TIMESApril 5, 2006Three poker champions played politics in Washington yesterday, complaining that Congress is using a stacked deck in dealing with the burgeoning, multibillion-dollar Internet gambling industry. Texas Hold'em masters Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer and Howard "The Professor" Lederer said bills pending in the House and Senate would outlaw poker gambling online, where an estimated 3 million Americans ante up $5 billion annually via virtual betting tables. They told congressional staffers that a federal prohibition would stunt the growth of the wildly popular game by depriving residents of most states of legal poker gambling and a way to qualify for million-dollar tournaments, such as the yearly main-event World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The $10,000-entry-fee-tournament attracted 800 players in 2003 as ESPN opened a window on the culture of high-stakes Texas Hold'em. The network offered table-by-table coverage, player profiles, lively commentary and innovative hole-card cameras that let viewers see who was bluffing. Last year, nearly 6,000 poker players anted up. In July, as many as 10,000 players are expected to descend on Las Vegas to win a World Series of Poker bracelet, the symbol of a professional poker champion. "These people would not be able to play in the World Series of Poker without Internet poker," Mr. Lederer told editors and reporters of The Washington Times. He, like other champions, is capitalizing on the Internet poker explosion by winning higher purses and working business deals with online wagering sites. The Nevada-based Poker Players Alliance wants states to legalize and regulate computer poker sites, where players can set up wagering accounts and join games for nickels and dimes, or for much higher stakes. No state now authorizes online poker wagers. Sites such as PokerStars.com, Fulltiltpoker.com and PartyPoker.net operate offshore. "We'd love to see it regulated and taxed," said Michael Bolcerek, Players Alliance president. He said states would reap new revenue and create jobs just as they do from horse racing, lotteries and casinos. He listed these statistics: 70 million Americans play poker, 23 million online, and 3 million at wagering sites; Americans bet $12 billion online on sports, with $5 billion on offshore poker sites. Mr. Bolcerek said he is in Washington "to open a dialogue about the importance of talking about poker as a game of skill and as an American tradition." Right now, Congress holds all the cards. "The government is doing things to scare people," Mr. Ferguson said. Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, is scheduled to testify today on his bill to prohibit interstate Internet gambling before the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security. His bill would shut down access to offshore gambling sites by barring wire transfers. "What we are targeting is people who are located outside the United States who are unregulated, untaxed and who are sucking billions of dollars out of the United States," Mr. Goodlatte said yesterday. He said a state would be free to authorize online poker wagering only if playing is confined to people inside the state, but states might view it as impossible to enforce such a restriction, he said. http://washingtontimes.com/national/200604...14606-3906r.htm

[Royal_Tour 0]

baah,throw them in jail and ban it all!!

[alf13 0]

I wonder if Ferguson wore the cowboy hat and glasses when he testified?They should have had Hellmuth go up there and throw chairs and call the congress people "donkey's"we might have gotten internet poker banned forever.

[Balloon guy 158]

Dude, one decent sized bribe to either political party and this bill goes away. One to each and the bill will never return.Or you can pretend that $5 billion a year going offshore is a good thing for America.Political donkeys

[Jdr999 0]

I wonder if Ferguson wore the cowboy hat and glasses when he testified?They should have had Hellmuth go up there and throw chairs and call the congress people "donkey's"we might have gotten internet poker banned forever.

Yes he did (at least the hat):"Ferguson, looking the part of the gambler in his beard and black cowboy hat..."http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/n...ll=1&thispage=1

[alf13 0]

Yes he did (at least the hat):"Ferguson, looking the part of the gambler in his beard and black cowboy hat..."http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/n...ll=1&thispage=1

BUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!That can't be good...Maybe we should have sent Mike The Mouth up there to capitol hill coked out of his mind.The just got to legalize this thing HERE and make poker legal everywhere.Somebody needs to get the Supreme Court to rule that Poker is a game of skill and that would be it...Screw the internet...I want a poker room on every street corner.

[Royal_Tour 0]

BUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!That can't be good...Maybe we should have sent Mike The Mouth up there to capitol hill coked out of his mind.The just got to legalize this thing HERE and make poker legal everywhere.Somebody needs to get the Supreme Court to rule that Poker is a game of skill and that would be it...Screw the internet...I want a poker room on every street corner.

I think if you use half your brain, you can come to the conclusion that they are affraid of something like that...meaning if they allow legal online gambling, why not B&M in every city?

[Steppin Razor 0]

Somebody needs to get the Supreme Court to rule that Poker is a game of skill and that would be it...

I'm pretty sure they already have. Otherwise, pro players wouldn't be able to write off losses.

[Shakey90 0]

They should have had Hellmuth go up there and throw chairs and call the congress people "donkey's"

best. post. ever.well played sir

[Golden 2]

BUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!That can't be good...Maybe we should have sent Mike The Mouth up there to capitol hill coked out of his mind.The just got to legalize this thing HERE and make poker legal everywhere.Somebody needs to get the Supreme Court to rule that Poker is a game of skill and that would be it...Screw the internet...I want a poker room on every street corner.

I heard Matusow was going to go, but his mother wouldn't sign the permission slip

[No_Neck 0]

I heard Matusow was going to go, but his PO wouldn't let him leave the state

FYP

[vonteego3 0]

I'm pretty sure they already have. Otherwise, pro players wouldn't be able to write off losses.

you can write off lottery losses, too. No skill involved, except having relatives with good birthdays.

[alf13 0]

I think if you use half your brain, you can come to the conclusion that they are affraid of something like that...meaning if they allow legal online gambling, why not B&M in every city?

Okay....the flaming was kinda cute for a while...but this is dumb as ****.You aren't a dumbass are you Royal? Or are you?In this country we have states. If the federal government made online gambling legal...it would still be up to the states to allow it or not in their particular state.So in other words...if they made online gambling legal...there wouldn't be B&M cardrooms opening up everywhere....unless each state decided that they are going to allow it.dumbass.

I'm pretty sure they already have. Otherwise, pro players wouldn't be able to write off losses.

They haven't. The California Supreme Court did however and it opened the state to B&M cardrooms.

[Royal_Tour 0]

Okay....the flaming was kinda cute for a while...but this is dumb as ****.You aren't a dumbass are you Royal? Or are you?In this country we have states. If the federal government made online gambling legal...it would still be up to the states to allow it or not in their particular state.So in other words...if they made online gambling legal...there wouldn't be B&M cardrooms opening up everywhere....unless each state decided that they are going to allow it.dumbass.They haven't. The California Supreme Court did however and it opened the state to B&M cardrooms.

as a whole thats a huge step.do u really think that it wouldnt affect it?? dumbass.

[KingJames 11]

Also an article in USA today...Gamblers to Congress: We want to keep playing By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Kings and queens visit here, but Tuesday brought three poker aces to Capitol Hill to oppose proposed legislation to crack down on Internet gambling, including poker played via clicks with a computer mouse.The three, who all do endorsements for offshore Internet poker firms, portrayed the legislative effort as an attack on freedom of choice to hold 'em or fold 'em."I promise you we're not bluffing," said Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, 2004 World Series of Poker champ, who said the "loss is going to be to the American public" if the legislation passes.He was joined at a news conference by fellow pros Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and Howard "The Professor" Lederer, who said, "The great game of poker needs to show up here in Washington."The House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing Wednesday on a bill (the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act) that also seeks to block such offshore Internet activities as sports wagering and blackjack.It would prevent offshore gambling firms from accepting credit card payments, checks or electronic transfers, and it would enable law enforcement to seek injunctions to remove or disable Internet links to gambling sites."Poker is an American tradition. It's been the card game of choice for presidents, generals, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices," said Michael Bolcerek, president of a group called the Poker Players Alliance. "This is censorship of the Internet, plain and simple." That bolded quote gets me... Raymer seems like such a smart guy... then he uses a lame analogy... anyway... it will be interesting to see how this all shakes down.James

[Othafa9 0]

also, this on yahoo news:http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20060405/tc_pcworld/125316I forsee this going over about as well as prohibition.

[alf13 0]

as a whole thats a huge step.do u really think that it wouldnt affect it?? dumbass.

It wouldn't affect it ONE BIT. NOT A ONE.Take an American Government class and learn how this country works...if you think it would affect it...you trully are a dumbass then.

[Royal_Tour 0]

It wouldn't affect it ONE BIT. NOT A ONE.Take an American Government class and learn how this country works...if you think it would affect it...you trully are a dumbass then.

Wow, you're so stupid its funny. The fact is, i'm aware of my countries political issues, and the rest of the worlds.Unlike you who seems to have no real clue, and probably still thinks america is the land of opportunities.Have you ever followed court trial cases?, ever follow any political debates other than presidential elections?what about world news? how's your dollar doing?there is so many factors to passing a bill like this, its not because they have it out against clowns like you who gamble.You really need to think logically.You took a silly extreme example i used at the end of my sentence and pulled some ridiculous Micheal Moore type statements, fact is your wrong to think making online poker legal wont affect the rest of the poker world. You're wrong to think protest wont start in different states to try and create legal cardrooms where they're currently illegal, or legal home games etc..

[alf13 0]

Wow, you're so stupid its funny. The fact is, i'm aware of my countries political issues, and the rest of the worlds.Unlike you who seems to have no real clue, and probably still thinks america is the land of opportunities.Have you ever followed court trial cases?, ever follow any political debates other than presidential elections?what about world news? how's your dollar doing?there is so many factors to passing a bill like this, its not because they have it out against clowns like you who gamble.You really need to think logically.You took a silly extreme example i used at the end of my sentence and pulled some ridiculous Micheal Moore type statements, fact is your wrong to think making online poker legal wont affect the rest of the poker world. You're wrong to think protest wont start in different states to try and create legal cardrooms where they're currently illegal, or legal home games etc..

WHOA...WHOA....relax.You didn't need to insult me. I wasn't attacking your country's political problems or debating the strength of the dollar.I wasn't attacking anything.I was pointing out that the way this country works...if internet gambling was made legal, there wouldn't be much of a change.State legislatures would still have to approve B&M gambling or referendums would need to be passed.Your argument seems to be that "protest" would start...so what?I am telling you that it would make little to NO difference if internet gambling was made legal.and I am right.When did you become such an azzhole?

[playingtowin 0]

Dude, one decent sized bribe to either political party and this bill goes away. One to each and the bill will never return.Or you can pretend that $5 billion a year going offshore is a good thing for America.Political donkeys

LOL...balloon guy u have some loose change? Maybe we all should donate a $1 a piece and u can handle the donation...

[pokerplayer24 0]

"Poker is an American tradition. It's been the card game of choice for presidents, generals, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices," said Michael Bolcerek, president of a group called the Poker Players Alliance. "This is censorship of the Internet, plain and simple."

Thats basically what it comes down to and I don't see this bill passing.

[FourFlusher 0]

Califonia has legal card rooms...poker, blackjack, pan, I don't know what all.We do not have poker rooms on every corner.They are highly regulated by the county and city.The Bay 101 club has x amount of tables in use, and more alloted by the state they can't use because the City of San Jose will not let them.Many counties/cities refuse to allow poker rooms regardless of the fact they are otherwise legal in the state.

[Royal_Tour 0]

Califonia has legal card rooms...poker, blackjack, pan, I don't know what all.We do not have poker rooms on every corner.They are highly regulated by the county and city.The Bay 101 club has x amount of tables in use, and more alloted by the state they can't use because the City of San Jose will not let them.Many counties/cities refuse to allow poker rooms regardless of the fact they are otherwise legal in the state.

Yes, I agree with alf and yourself on this fact, But we're talking online gaming.Its huge! 50 million people in the US alone? (i think its 50) and wit hthat being said, how many actual different servers of offshores poker sites would you say?dozens? maybe hundreds?If they actually do legalize online poker in the US and some states follow, you can almost guarantee that because the price to operate a site wil now be considerably lower, they will be poping up like mad.I'm not saying it should be banned, i'm just saying they should leave it alone, if they want to allow on site servers but keep them regulated, thats good.If not, Pokerstars wont be the only rigged site out there

[alf13 0]

Yes, I agree with alf and yourself on this fact, But we're talking online gaming.Its huge! 50 million people in the US alone? (i think its 50) and wit hthat being said, how many actual different servers of offshores poker sites would you say?dozens? maybe hundreds?If they actually do legalize online poker in the US and some states follow, you can almost guarantee that because the price to operate a site wil now be considerably lower, they will be poping up like mad.I'm not saying it should be banned, i'm just saying they should leave it alone, if they want to allow on site servers but keep them regulated, thats good.If not, Pokerstars wont be the only rigged site out there

Personally...I think it is important to keep all those dollars HERE in the US of A...What really keeps a start up from popping up in costa rica and robbing their customers by rigging the sites, or stealing deposits? Not much.....If online poker became legal in the US...it would be regulated and people like Dutch Boyd...might be in jail....it wouldn't be so easy to incorporate off shore and rob everybody and then tell them..."sue me"...As for B&M cardrooms...I live here in florida where we have $1,000 sng's and mtt's but don't have a measily 5/10 limit game...so yeah...our laws are screwed up.That is the crime here. A sng and mtt is much more luck based than a regular ring game...but yet...they don't mind people plunging thousands into these tourney's but NO...you can't buyin for $100 in a measily 1/2 NL game.

[Scanner313 0]

Thats basically what it comes down to and I don't see this bill passing.

Do you honestly think out government cares whether or not they are censoring the internet? They won't let gays marry because it would destroy the "sanctity of marriage", yet more than 50% of straight people who marry get divorced. If that's not a mandate to say that there is no sanctity in the overall institution of marriage then I don't know what is. So to think they care at all about restricting gambling on the internet is ridiculous.The saving grace for the on-line poker industry is the amount of money it's generating. When the government sees how much they can make from this they will jump right on board to get their cut. Well, the Democrats will anyway. The Republicans will need to see some really serious $$$ in order for them to eleveate this issue above the level of their "gambling is a sin" beliefs. Who knows, maybe it's high enough to be there already.I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.