Recent Federal Ruling to Open the Door for Intrastate Poker?

[Dallas12]

My be some good news for poker players in the U.S.A. This is a good read.

Cash-starved states may soon get their wish to legalize intrastate poker thanks to a recent decision from a U.S. appeals court. Tuesday's ruling upheld the Unlawful Internet Gaming Act of 2006, a hot topic among politicians on Capital Hill. Despite facing growing support on the House floor, the court's decision to continue banning credit card payments to Web sites that facilitate online betting has left many wondering when this archaic law will finally be repealed.

Unfortunately for Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming (iMEGA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit did not buy the group's assertion that the current laws regarding the banning of these kinds of payments are unconstitutional. Although this appears to be a loss for the poker industry, there is a sense of optimism because the court asserted that this is more of a states rights issue as opposed to a federal problem.

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According to Interactive Media chairman Joe Brennan Jr, the flood gates have opened for states interested in pursuing online poker as a way to fund stressed budgets. "There are 44 states where this is an opportunity for Internet gaming to become regulated and normalized," he said

Although the court's decision still enforces the ban, it was clear to specify that the enforcement of the Act does not vilify online poker players. "It bears repeating that the Act itself does not make any gambling activity illegal. Whether the transaction in Interactive's hypothetical case constitutes unlawful Internet gambling turns on how the law of the state from that the bettor initiates the bet in would treat that bet," read the court's decision.

A second positive result of this ruling is that the media extensively covered the decision repeatedly discussing the money that could be generated by the governing bodies that finally decide to tax and regulate the online poker industry. This should help drum up support for Rep. Barney Frank's crusade to legitimize the online industry. Frank, who is the chairman of the House Financial Service Committee, proposed legislation last May that would see the game taxed and regulated.

[sweetpea]

It seems as though if the government steps in to regulate online gambling, that may be the only way online gambling will be secure again (players not having access to their funds at poker sites, that's just wrong). My question is this: what kinds of changes can we expect playing online poker if that happens? Will it continue as always but with the only difference is that the government gets its financial cut of the money?

[eejit101]

Every week someone posts something that "is good news" or "might be good news"

To be honest its all just crap. Nothings changing.

When it changes let me know plz.

And feel free to quote text like this when its quoted. As otherwise it just takes time to take the chips back, rather then not earn them in the first place.

[Lilred36]

As bad as I hate to say it,EEJITS right,nothings changed except its got worse,I feel just like weed,without being able to tax it,as most sites are not in the US they will never legalize it.We are all playing on borrowed time I am afraid.