Felony for playing poker in the United States?

[Bruner86]

Ok I found this post on myspace. It looks like the US goverment is trying hard to ban poker here. It just got voted in that playing poker in Washington State is punnishable by 10k/ 5 years and is a felony. Im getting so dissapointed with our rights getting taken away. My best friend with 2 kids and has lived in this country since he was an infant just got deported. Anyway, any thoughts on this?






Well things are NOT going well....

The federal effort to ban online gambling has cleared another hurdle and within the next 10 days the House of Representatives will be voting on H.R. 4777, The Internet Gaming Prohibition Act. It is essential that your member of Congress know that you oppose this legislation.

If you love poker and think the government is getting into our lives a little more each day like I do and many, many others do. Please look into " The Internet Gambling Act" and write your state government about it. You can also check out the Poker Players Alliance website to keep up to date.... http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/

This is a GREAT site. Many well known people are apart of it.

Oh yeah, one other thing. If you decide to write your state government ( which I hope you do) here is a letter already written. It was written by the Poker Players Alliance for all of it's members to send. And yes I did send it. So please feel free to copy and paste this letter. You can go to : http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/
to find out who to send it to in your state, or go there to send the letter below through them. When you go to that site just scroll half way down the page and you will see the words, " Act now to stop these bills". Click on that and follow the instructions. It takes just a minute to send. And thank you for your help.


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I am writing to urge you to oppose pending legislation that would limit the rights of individuals to play poker online and ask that you support alternative, bi-partisan, legislation that would establish a federal commission to study online gambling.


Very soon the full House of Representatives will consider H.R. 4777 introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Vir., that would effectively outlaw the great game of poker on the Internet.
As an avid poker player, I feel strongly that this bill and any other legislation which would deny Americans the right to play a game of skill such as poker on the Internet, seriously and egregiously violate my personal freedoms.


Poker is a unique American game enjoyed by more than 70 million people in this country. Recently, the popularity of poker has exploded and the game has extended to the Internet variety that allows people from all over the country and in fact all over the world -- to match their wits and intellect in this true game of skill. According to Ipsos, a global market research firm, more than 23 million Americans now play poker online! The possibility of the government stripping this activity away from me, and millions of my fellow Americans, is unacceptable.


It is important to note that a recent Wall Street Journal poll found that 84 percent oppose federal efforts to ban online gambling. Americans are seeking a more reasonable approach to Internet poker. One such tact would be to tax and regulate it here in the United States, as we do with brick and mortar casinos. Representatives Jon Porter, R-Nev., Shelly Berkley, R-Nev., and Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. recently introduced H.R. 5474, the Internet Gambling Study Commission Act that would enable the government to examine the possibility of regulating and taxing online gambling, rather than an outright prohibition.


This legislation is a more responsible and reasonable approach to public policy than an outright poker ban. I strongly believe that a thorough examination by this commission will clarify many of the gross misconceptions about Internet poker. I am confident that the commissions study will show that a tax and regulate approach to online pokersimilar to the approach used for land-based gamblingwill ensure a safe and regulated environment for Americans to play on the Internet. In addition, this tack will allow state and federal governments to reap significant tax revenues from what is currently a multi-billion dollar industry. Some of this money could be wisely spent on public education and services for problem gamblers.


From average citizens to presidents, generals, members of Congress, and Supreme Court justices, Americans have been playing poker for centuries, making it a rich part of our cultural heritage. Today, the evolution of game on the Internet should not be restricted by overarching government interference.


I urge you to take these concerns into consideration and oppose H.R. 4777 that will make outlaws of poker players who enjoy the game online.

[nodepositneeded]

Emailing your congressman with online forms is a great start - but actually mailing a stamped letter will do wonders. Stamped mail seems to carry more weight than an email.

[eejit101]

cos you paid to protest i guess.

[bosnians]

did that retarded act pass? cuz if so, Germany here i come.

[nodepositneeded]

It is a felony to gamble online in Washington State. However, they have expressed that they won't actively enforce that law for the individual player.

[eejit101]

did that retarded act pass? cuz if so, Germany here i come.

germany? bah, WALES!!!!

[bosnians]

im german so im going there if it passes.
bosnians

[5thStBully]

Good point NDN, I'll send something in by snail mail also.

[venom]

I am in WA sate, and still going strong..........

[Christobal]

I doubt it will happen. Well, I realllllllllly hope not too. Poker is making billions if not trillions for the economy so if the US shut it down, they would be really dumb.

[FilaDog]

I doubt it will happen. Well, I realllllllllly hope not too. Poker is making billions if not trillions for the economy so if the US shut it down, they would be really dumb.

That is the issue ... the U.S. is not getting any of those funds. Internet poker is making nothing for the American economy. The poker sites are based overseas and out of the U.S. So the U.S. cannot tax them or get their hands into that billion dollar pot. Since they cannot, they are going to outlaw it. This forces you into the B&M's they hope, where they get their cut. To me, it is legalized Mafia Action.

I am in WA state... and I personally do not appreciate being held on the same level as someone who maintains child ****ography, and animal abuser and one who threatens our governor... all because I choose to sit at my computer and toss a few chips and chat.