Is it going to happen? No more American poker players online? Old debate I know.

[kvnstv]

Ericstoners post about William hill effectively cutting itself of from US clients has made me re examine my previously held belief that the legal proceedings being championed by some US senators (financially backed by some very interested parties*) with the full support of the current US administration’s efforts to prevent there own citizens making a reasoned choice to use there own funds how they choose was something akin to King Canute trying to hold back the tide.

I know that from inception some European owned poker sites like Ladbrokes have prevented US based customers from opening accounts but for a major poker/sportsbook to actually  begin to turn away customers is a very interesting development. Surely there can’t be too many reasons for a bookie to turn away business;

It’s not worth it? Unlikely US pretty big place!
It’s illegal? Well arguable point at the moment.
It’s soon going to be illegal?

If the current bill’s in front of the US senate do pass how enforceable will they be, although I’m an IT manager I know very little about what sort of preventive measures are available but I did speak to our network manager who said that as long as full cooperation is available with ISP’s then its quite straight forward to put blocks in place. Of course people will find ways around this so what are they going to do start locking up recreational poker players, two years for a 10$ S+G seems a bit harsh!

What’s the likely affect on such a massive reduction in online players?
Could the potential opening of the Asian markets offset the US loss?     



 * The sponsor Senator for the Washington state law was one, Margarita Prentice (D) 11th District, and here are some of her financial supporters -

WA INDIAN GAMING ASSN OLYMPIA WA
NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE OLYMPIA WA
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE AUBURN WA
CHIPS CASINO LLC BREMERTON WA
CONF TRIBES OF COLVILLE RESERVATION NESPELEM WA
GOLDIE'S SHORELINE CASINO SHORELINE WA

So no conflict on interest there then!

[boldie]

I said it when the news first came out, this will have a massive impact on the online poker scene.
People forget that they left out betting on Horse racing in this bill. The banning of gambling on horseracing online is the only thing that has stopped this bill in the past and now that that is out there is a very good chance of the bill actually going ahead.

conflicts of interest is not something that ussually stops a Senator from acting on something..in fact lobbyists are very well paid for a reason. Those guys aren't charity workers, they represent a billion dollar industry and can essentially get someone elected, that's what matters. If the lobbyists for casino's are told to push something, they will. They have the money and therefore they have the power to do so.

[Acidmouse]

If the gun and anti abortion lobby's can have so much power I am sure the same can be done for the "tinternet gambling lobby" could.

[boldie]

If the gun and anti abortion lobby's can have so much power I am sure the same can be done for the "tinternet gambling lobby" could.

yes but you forget..tinternet gambling lobby is not as powerfull as the casino lobby as the casino's pay taxes in the states.

[Acidmouse]

Will it effect us much if no American's can play Online? just interested, wife was asking me (she's a yank)

[SupaMonkey]

Will it effect us much if no American's can play Online? just interested, wife was asking me (she's a yank)

Yes, the games will become much harder.   

[Acidmouse]

I got banned a few months back from a rather large USA poker forum for daring to find it funny that they are trying to ban online poker there. People accusing me of being Anti-American and such, always makes me chuckle.

[boldie]

I got banned a few months back from a rather large USA poker forum for daring to find it funny that they are trying to ban online poker there. People accusing me of being Anti-American and such, always makes me chuckle.

hahaha..they are a funny bunch. I have a very good friend who's American and he cracks me up sometimes with his opinions and lack of knowledge..and general sensitivity about being a yank...while proclaimiing to be proud of it....that's the thing that really cracks me up. (I still love him like a brother though...actually he is a "bruvva" but that's not what I meant)

I am proud to be american!....but I will go on tilt if I think you critisize me as I'm soo insecure lol

[kvnstv]

Above all I just find the whole thing weird, you can drive down the road to gamble in a reservation casino but cant do it from the comfort of your own home. You can back horse's online with the racetrack sites and buy lottery tickets but cant play poker or bet on sports? Theres no rhyme or reason to it, but then again they are American so shouldnt expect any. 

[Royal Flush]

Will it effect us much if no American's can play Online? just interested, wife was asking me (she's a yank)

Yes, the games will become much harder.   

Try the complete opposite!

[totalise]

this is lookin real bad.. apparently an Internet Gambling Language was attached to some stupid Port defence bill and will go before the senate tonight, if it gets through (which it looks certain it will) its pretty much curtains for online gaming in the US, depending on the language of the bill.

Speculation is rife, some say it will only affect banks/credit cards.. so neteller will be ok, and some speculate that the ISP's will be banning them from signing into pokesites, and that banks will refuse to have anything to do with neteller.


Flushy says the games will get easier, but I disagree entirely... where is the money gonna come from? even if the players are allowed to log into pokersites, its gonna get real hard to get money into them, and the average fish in america wont want to jump through the hoops to deposit, so its just gonna leave the better players playing. The games are gonna get very tough.

If they do ban it completely, then it will restrict a huge inflow of money trickling in. Its like a pyramid, money flows in, $100 at a time, and it trickles upwards through the stakes. Without this money coming into the economy, it can dry out very quickly.

Its a grave situation for sure.... and the ban is going to be terrible for the game, not in any way good.

[Sark79]

Aren't the US players generally better than anywhere else?  judging by alot of online  lists such as the mtt leader-board on P5's almost all the top spots are filled with players from North America

[byronkincaid]

That's the point sark, the good yanks will find a way to play and the millions of yank fish will think it's too much hassle and do something else.

[byronkincaid]

I guess there's a way to make some money out of this by shorting Party, 888 etc? Would spread betting be the easiest way?

[Sark79]

But this group of good US players will be outnumbered ( if that's a word?  ) by Europeans, parts of Asia, etc.  Surely with a larger player base from elsewhere, a nationality other than one of the top Americans will win.