How far can the Government get to stop a thriving Industry?
In the middle of a crisis the USA government is desperately looking for new ways to collect more taxes and the online poker industry is not exempted.
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 leaves little room between online gambling, understood for this matter as sports betting and other types of gaming such as Online Poker. Later in history, on September 30th 2006 the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 was passed trying to stop the transfer of funds from American soil to online poker companies abroad and vice versa on the grounds that “gambling is providing a mechanism of criminal activity in order to facilitate money laundering, underage gambling or cheating” according to federal authorities.
The question all the poker players in the U.S. are asking is what if I do not fit in any of those categories? To regular and not so regular players, Poker has always been a great way to spend leisure time, whether it be friends, family or in some co-worker’s basement after long working office hours. Some of the arguments are based on Poker being a game of mere chance rather than skill, but to those who have taken part in it know that it is completely the opposite.
When, in a poker table, you are dealt your cards, this is all the luck you are going to get, beyond this point it is all a question of pure skill and tactic what is going to keep you “alive”. The dealer might be a flesh and bone guy sitting in front of you or a computerized one, the outcome is all up to you. Simple ways to prove this is by the fact you are actually playing to beat other players’ skills.
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The conversations turn a bit delicate when it comes to rights, though. If I have the right to play Poker in my home, with whomever it is I want, why am I not going to be able to play the same way using my Internet connection instead? The answer everybody knows is simple, if there is money involved and the government does not have its share, it will be illegal. The recent arrests of poker online businessmen are the latest example of how committed the Government is in obtaining some fresh bucks. In the meantime all accounts in the companies seized will be frozen; we are talking about 10 million players in the U.S. alone.
The only possible way to overcome this situation is, because people will keep playing poker, online or not, to make Poker Online legal and taxed. This will be achieved by licensing and regulating the Industry and at the same time provide the players with safe and reliable companies. Another advantage this action will carry is that it will create new jobs inside the borders, which is way better than sending them away.
It will not be an easy task. All actions must be undertaken by the Government and the Gaming industry together playing fair and square, all we can wish for them is to play their hands wisely.
