Posted on 02/15/2010 4:57:58 PM PST by fanfan
The great thing about America is that a guy like me can follow his dreams and do what he loves to do and still support his family.
I play poker for a living. Poker is not for everybody. Some people have the skill and the mathematical ability to be great at poker, and some people do not.
I got my big break winning an online poker tournament, which gave me the chance to go to Las Vegas and compete in the World Series of Poker. I was able to win that tournament and the rest, as they say, is history.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I saw that the United States Congress decided to make it more difficult for people to play poker online. In 2006, the Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a law that tries to stop Americans from playing poker for money and has the effect of keeping American companies from owning Internet gaming Web sites.
That’s a stupid law, I thought. Online poker is not going away. Millions of people play online poker all over the world, especially in America. Why penalize Americans and leave open the market to companies from other countries?
When it comes to politics, I am a libertarian. I believe that giving people the freedom to do what they want to do to achieve their version of the American dream is what this great country is all about.
I am also a patriot. I love this country, because it truly does serve as a beacon for freedom for the rest of the world.
That is why I am so angry at those members of Congress who have tried to take my version of the American dream away from me. Taking freedom away is not what America is all about.
Poker is an intrinsic part of America’s soul. Poker is an American game. Poker was a vital part of the American frontier. Harry Truman was playing poker in the Speaker’s office of the United States Congress when his boss Franklin Roosevelt died, and he became President.
It’s no secret that current members of Congress play poker, our president is a poker player, and that there is a regular poker game that includes Supreme Court justices. Isn’t it hypocritical for some of these politicians to try to ban poker playing for those of us who play poker online?
Some say that we should be concerned about kids playing poker online, and I agree. But the answer is to regulate online poker, not ban it for everyone. Regulation is the only realistic way to protect our kids.
I love America. And I love to play poker. It is my version of the American dream. I have a simple message to Congress. Keep your hands off of my poker hand. Repeal the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, license and regulate online poker, and stand up for freedom in this country.
Greg Raymer is a professional poker player. He is best known for winning the 2004 World Series of Poker main event.
>>Sounds more like the Las Vegas/Atlantic City lobby did not want online gambling.<<
As I said upthread, I think the opportunity was there and they grabbed it (to do just what you say).
I thought that with the banning of online poker.....That really banned the offshore sites. And that American Indian casinos could set up online poker operations if they wanted. I know of none
All poker sites operate on a cash-only basis. The funds you deposit are the funds you can put at risk. There is no “line of credit” that I’ve ever heard of.
If some guy tried to use the “online poker is illegal in my state” dodge, then he stole money or borrowed it (legally or otherwise) and used online poker as an excuse to get out of having to pay it back. He didn’t get any loans from an online poker site. Nope.
As for the “scripted hands” thing ... oh, please. I’ve heard “IT’S RIGGED!!” so many times now that I just tune it out. I’ve won some freaky weird hands and I’ve lost just as many. If you think it’s rigged, then stay the hell away.
The cheating meme follows the same logic as a casino trying to cheat: Why risk ruining your good reputation (or state gaming commission license) if you’re already making a nice percentage? Absolute Poker got caught in a scandal a few years back and they’re still suffering for it. It ain’t worth it.
Legal or not, rigged or not, it’s still purely my decision to play or not. Show me where the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate moral behavior and I might listen to your argument. But I doubt it.
Freedom means leaving people the hell alone.
The way I remember this, horse racing was included in the prohibition and the horse-racing lobby was able to get an exemption at the last minute. It wasn’t conceived for the horse-racing industry, they were lucky to escape at the last minute.
This bill was passed because GOP legislators were throwing a sop to the religious elements.
But it was dumb because the party was looking at a tough election and with this bill negatively targeted the party’s most reliable voting bloc, adult white men with money.
Who bets online? Mostly adult white men with money.
Fedgov is big enough without this nanny state crap. It just puts more salary, pension and health care obligations on the backs of productive citizens.
>>This bill was passed because GOP legislators were throwing a sop to the religious elements.
But it was dumb because the party was looking at a tough election and with this bill negatively targeted the party’s most reliable voting bloc, adult white men with money.
Who bets online? Mostly adult white men with money.<<
It is all coming back to me — thanks.
I think the picture being painted by the folks that remember the special interests getting in the way of liberty is accurate...
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” — C. S. Lewis
>>“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” — C. S. Lewis<<
Wow — too long for a tagline, but a perfect sentiment.
There is still subscription poker sites that still operate fully under the laws.
Regulate it and tax it. The feds could make billions. The time is now.
LOL, what about the NWO?
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