Sadly, I think you're right.

Nobody is going to stick their neck out and promote a bill to legalise gambling on a national scale at a time of recession and austerity caused by bankers financial gambling.

It's just not going to make it onto any meaningful politicians agenda for the forseeable future.

I know you'll say poker isn't gambling (I agree - it's not) but that's not how the majority see it and that's the reality that has to be dealt with

I don't think pokerstars is the be all and end all of online poker. I realize that people who were primarily playing the last few years may feel that way, but prior to that it was partypoker and at times it was other sites. Back in 2006 everyone was loving paradise poker above everything because it was just so insanely soft and had those great rebuy tournaments every day. Party was the biggest, Stars was huge, Full Tilt was getting bigger. There was a big place for quite a number of sites at that time, and people's needs/desires were different than they are now. The industry changes, and just because Stars was the biggest and best in 2011 doesn't mean it always will be.

I think we're just skimming the surface at this point of what's possible in online poker, because a relatively small amount money has been spent on the entire industry up to this point. Obviously it's been quite a bit more than nothing, but the investments made have been small (particularly on US-facing poker rooms) compared to the kind of money that will be thrown at this once most or all of the big players in gaming are involved. We're already starting to see what's possible in Europe. The US will show us a lot more, though. Games will be different, player base will be different, deposit and cashout methods will be VERY different. 6 months after the US market is fully in play, no one will be talking about how they miss the old days of instant e-checks on PokerStars. You'll be able to cash money out of these sites with a debit card. Quickly no one will remember about the days of having to have a cash out recredited to their account because a processor was seized. No one will remember the threads here on the site about people wanting to know if some weird looking check was safe to cash at their bank.

EVERYONE in the US who wants to play online poker will be better off in a regulated environment. I hear complaints about everything ranging from how the government will fuck it all up to stuff like taxes, but at the end of the day you will be able to make MUCH more money playing because of the vastly expanded player base that will come. And the other hassles and anxieties will be gone, you won't have to worry week to week about terrible industry news. We'll finally be moving forward, instead of the endless stream of bad news and lateral or backward moves that have happened in the industry since 2006

I do kind of disagree even about the election year thing. I would have 100% agreed in the past based on how the environment was in the industry, but I think this issue has become decidedly not controversial. There just is a ton of momentum to make it happen now and very little significant force fighting against it. I don't see the elections getting in the way. I think this thing is going to happen, and soon

And PS I hope I'm right :) Once legislation starts to pass, it's going to be quite a while before sites are live. And so the sooner the better

Thanks for your view on the subject Adam. I agree with you, however, I think it's going to be quite a while before we see any of this in reality. Like you said, even if legislation is passed, it's going to take some time before new sites are up and running.

I simply can't understand how poker is deemed as gambling. You associate gambling with playing against a house, not other players. In theory, it's not rocket science but the government seems to be making this a bigger issue than it really is.

I hope you're right though and that the US soon sees the light at the end of the poker tunnel.

I was reading this article http://www.wallstreetnewscast.com/ne.../elra2572.html and I think we're pretty close to getting there when a stock call is made revolving around a potential online poker bill. From what I've seen watching the stock market, legislation is rarely mentioned related to a stock move(either positive or negative) unless there is a real chance of that legislation being introduced in the near future(6mo-1 yr). I mean, it obviously does not mean that legislation will be introduced, or even that it will pass once introduced, but I think the momentum is strongly shifting in favor of legalization which is a huge step forward for us if we think back to April where it seemed that we had few politicians on our side.

It's more than FoF that opposes gambling expansion. Many states are very guarded about it as well. For instance, a bill in IL that would expand gambling in a massive way was recently voted down by the House.

As long as politicians are involved in getting a deal done I think we're screwed, esp in IL, where our two most recent governors are in jail. You just aren't gonna be able to make the deal sweet enough for them to go along with it. Plus they won't wanna double cross the b&m casinos, who have lined their pockets, by welcoming in more competition.

And opposing gambling always helps boost their public image because they turn it into "hey I'm looking out for people and I care" kinda thing. "Just because we need the money doesn't mean we need to turn to solutions like this..." And that couldn't be further from the truth. Its a bottom line business for these ppl-what's in it for me and how can you advance my interests?

This whole process is worse than watching paint dry lol.

That whole "We the People" thing is such a crock of shit too.

 

Originally Posted by P0KERDUUDE

That whole "We the People" thing is such a crock of shit too.

LOL

What?

Have we not been watching what is going on?

Adam was right in that Party Pooper was the biggest and the best prior to them leaving the market in 2006. stars ran to the top because of that.

Have we not been watching.....Party Pooper has formed an alliance to re-enter the US Market and I GUARANTEE they already have the site built and can launch with-in weeks of regulation being passed.

With Party coming back in they will be able to use a US based site and integrate their current users and once again retain the top spot and become party poker once again.

Legislation wont happen because its an election year.......are you really that ignorant? Poker has certainly become accepted as a "sport" or "hobby" in the US. Our political arena has changed and the need for money as well as out of the box thinking is becoming a driving force. What the heck do you think the're having all of these open meetings for?

2012 is ripe for the passing of legislation (NOT LEGALIZATION) and the opening of a site that would instantly go BOOM!

Every frigg'en American that has ever wanted to play will fire up their computer once our lovely government say's "It's OK, you can go out and play with your friends Tommy"


Don't forget....ONLINE POKER IS NOT ILLEGAL.......They don't need to legalize it....that would be a much different battle and would be a "Voting Year" issue.....(Gahhhhhhh.....donks!)

I agree with a lot of things being said ITT, but mostly I agree with OP that our government doesn't care enough to do anything about it.

I don't question IF poker will be regulated in the US, i know it's just a matter of time. But the US government doesn't give enough of a shit to expedite the process. The whole mess probably could have been cleaned up within two months after black friday, as far as regulation and launching a site that's safe for US players goes.

It could and should have happened already.

Something tells me it's still going to be a while longer. I really hope i'm wrong.

 

Originally Posted by mcandrews3rd

pretty sure whichever site becomes the leading US site (assuming US poker is regulated) would quickly become the leading world wide site as long as stars isnt allowed back into the market (also assuming US sites would be world wide)

wherever the mass amounts of new US online players go everyone will want to follow and it will only be software and mayb schedule that is weaker at first but this is pretty easy to get right

I agree with this, unless the new biggest site in the US won't be allowed to accept players from outside the US which is possibly going to happen. Another possibility is that the rake is too high on US sites thus keeping Pokerstars as the top worldwide site.