Since there's a problem with multi-accounting and underage youth, wouldn't it be an appropriate idea to enforce ALL players to send in a copy of their ID to confirm their age and identity?

As an result, it'll get rid of the underage people (no offense to them) and it'll stop most of the multi-accounting going on.

edit: everyone can make their own suggestions.

True, but at the same time we can find out who should and will be held accountable for certain actions.

It's not difficult to get your parent's credit card information.

edit: also, most people can easily get a prepaid credit card, iirc.

Well, online poker is under fire atm compared to porn and mmorpg.

"Because thieves have been caught, not because they are getting away with it."

Where there is smoke there is fire.

My Suggestions for regulating online poker / curbing multi-accounting:

Legal gambling age in the USA is 21, it should be the same for all online US Players. The qualifying age to play online for money, should match whatever age is legal in that players home country.

Legal drinking age is 21 in USA and 18 or 19 in Canada, however a 19 year old US citizen cannot order liquor online from canada, why should they be allowed to play poker for money online?

Every account should have a SSN attached to it (or whatever legal taxing number is appropriate for a players home country). This would help prevent multi-accounting, because if junior makes a big score on "mom's" account, she would get a W2-G and be responsible for the taxes. This accountability is also essential for governments to make sure taxes are being paid on income.

If we survive this AP scandal and stars WCOOP scandal, and the US decides to regulate online poker, I believe these 2 concepts will / should be implemented.

Feel free to flame away, but you will be hard pressed to make a case why underage US players should be allowed to play online, especially with some bragging that they can multi-account at will.

So, make the age match the players home state. Most states are 21, some are 18. I don't know any that allow 16 year olds to play poker for money, and why are you comparing bingo to poker?

Identity theft is a BS reason, you just don't want to pay taxes or you don't trust the online companies. If you don't trust the online companies then don't play.

By the way, Maine laws allow people to play in casinos at the age of 16, which is where poker falls in the scheme of gambling laws. Many states don't allow gambling at any age in casinos, should residents of those states then not be allowed to play poker online either? Click the link below to see how difficult it would be for online gambling sites to follow minimum age laws on a state by state basis.

http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/..._age_chart.htm

How do they know what state you are playing in? Why should online gambling sites have to follow the rules a state has for B&M casinos when the states clearly differentiate between the two?

Oh hell, even if sites used fingerprint or retina scan technology, multi-accounters would just pay some college buddies or bum on the street. To regulate poker, you would have to legalize and move all servers to U.S. territory and create some regulatory agency to constantly monitor all activites 24/7. It will never happen. PLAY LIVE and hope nobody is marking cards or acting in collusion.

Why do you all think online poker has to follow US laws? If the servers are located in forgien country they would follow their sovereign laws. They don't have to find what state you are from nor should they be asked to. The US cannot and should not ask a sovereign nation to change or amend their laws. I belive that regulation is usually a bad idea. The free market can solve almost everything and regulation simply gets in its way. If poker must be regulated the process would be very simple. Let the KGC dome up with a list of regulations. Though I do question how an indian tribe has the right and power to place regulations on every poker site. I think the regulatory comisssion, if one HAD to be created, would have to be made by the leaders of the industry.

I agree with most of that. The reason the KGC has the right to regulate the sites is because they locate their servers in their jurisdiction.

Players should unite for self-regulation. You've just proven your ability to influence the industry. There are thousands of you with all the resources required to do this. If thousands of poker players join together in a formal fashion, the sites will have to pay attention to you.

You've got lawyers, accountants, IT experts and MBAs - and financial resources...everything it would take to formalize a group. I don't want to say "union" - but that is close to what I am describing. It's your money supporting these sites - you are the consumers.

Develop a logo...award it to sites who agree to follow the rules you specify, including guidelines for investigation and resolution of issues like suspected cheating.

Unite and influence!!!

You can flame this idea if you wish, but remember that out of every wild, crazy "brainstorming" kind of idea, there could be something that is worth pursuing. There are "consumer" groups, players' unions, actors guilds, etc. There are huge numbers of players who would probably be happy to join an organization dedicated to online poker whose mission is to provide a fair and ethical playing environment... and avoid the imposition of laws developed by lawmakers who don't have a clue.

"Players should unite for self-regulation. You've just proven your ability to influence the industry. There are thousands of you with all the resources required to do this. If thousands of poker players join together in a formal fashion, the sites will have to pay attention to you. "

Disagree. Lots of players notified AP about potripper and his gang, AP denied it all. It was by accidental release of information their backs were pinned to the wall. If it wasn't for that excel file this would have been swept under the rug.

There's a big difference between individuals notifying AP vs. an organization of thousands notifying AP. Try to think beyond this specific incident. And if the "individuals" came to the organization and asked for an investigation, perhaps the guidelines would have required AP to hand over the HH to the organization. And then the organization would have some "say" in how AP responds/reacts/reimburses.

And my suggestion is intended to go beyond this specific situation...you all can let regulation come to you, or you can create your own legislation that most likely would create/maintain the type of playing environment you really want. And you could have the power of thousands of players behind each and every one of you.

I don't agree with Dyzalot on everything, but in this case he's right on. You really don't want the US Government to get their legislative "hands" into regulating online poker.