Where (Online) Poker Currently Stands in Washington DC / America

by , Jan 25, 2009 | 12:15 am

As many of you probably know, one of President Barack Obama’s first acts even before assuming office was creating a National Suggestion Box. And though I am concerned that they’ve already forgotten about it (they haven’t yet changed the header at Change.gov from “President-Elect” to “President”), an issue that’s jumped way up to the top of the list is repeal of the UIGEA. Though I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, the only folks who seem more motivated are the pot smokers.

Anyhow, you can see all the poker related posts at Change.gov via an on-site search for poker or UIGEA. Or just click “most popular” — where they’ve assigned a point system to all the ideas in America and poker has cracked the top 10. The list of issues attracting the squeakiest wheels, in order (with the number of comments in parentheses):

1. Ending Marijuana Prohibition (3,550)
2. Commit to becoming the “Greenest” country in the world (199)
3. Stop using federal resources to undermine states’ medicinal marijuana laws (17)
4. An end to the government sponsored abstinence education to be replaced by an introduction of age appropriate sex education. (158)
5. Bullet Trains & Light Rail (434)
6. The permanent closure of all Torture facilities. (Facilities such as: Guantanamo, and Abu Ghraib) (119)
7. Revoke the George W. Bush tax cuts for the top 1 % (119)
8. Get the Insurance Companies out the Health Care (362)
9. Revoke the Tax Exempt Status of the Church of Scientology (545)
10. Bring Back the Constitution! (243)
11. Boost America’s Economy with Legal Online Poker (1,713)

UPDATE: We dropped off the front page, from #9 to #11, in the course of my writing this post. I’d say “damn Constitution!”, but that probably wouldn’t help our cause. You can still vote — here’s a link to page 2 of the list, though hopefully it will become an irrelevant link by Monday morn.


6 Comments to “Where (Online) Poker Currently Stands in Washington DC / America”


  1. Glen Harness
    says:

    Since all the online poker companies are overseas, how will legalizing it “boost America’s economy”?


  2. DanM
    says:

    Because it will allow companies to be based in America. It will allow more American players. It will allow better sponsorship and events — you won’t have major companies running scared from anything to do with online poker … stimulus on multiple levels.

    But most specifically, especially if the operations have American operations, which they will, then they themselves can be taxed.

    Online poker is seeking the opposite of a bailout. The industry is saying, please, let us pay you so we can keep our industry good, clean, and American-friendly!


  3. Kevin Mathers
    says:

    The polling was finished before the inauguration last week.


  4. DanM
    says:

    >>The polling was finished before the inauguration last week.<< I swear it's position changed upon refresh. And I voted, too. Did my vote not count?


  5. Kevin Mathers
    says:

    Don’t know when you voted Dan, but in late voting it did drop from 9th to 11th overall.


  6. Mark Brown
    says:

    Online casinos offer a broad range of benefits and games to gamblers. From novice to professional gambler, you can find the game that suits you best at UK online casinos. You need to know a few basic guidelines about casino life.These guidelines make it easier for you to get around without having to ask too many questions and feel more comfortable in the environment.