We have so many convos about online poker — from the play to the business to the laws — and more specifically of late, how it\’s seen by the non-poker masses. I got a little anecdotal reminder of these \”normal people\” perceptions of the game when a Facebook friend (who happens to be a third-year-law student who used to work for Congress in DC … so, you know, educated, pop-culture-and-politics-savvy … ) IM\’d me looking for a quick synopsis of everything related to the multibillion-dollar international industry that 10s of millions of people are in some way connected to:
4:53pmKristiné
may i ask a poker related question
4:53pmDan
sure
4:54pmKristiné
what can you tell me about online poker – ala full tilt or something like that?
(i\’m not going to do it, just curious)
4:54pmDan
um, there\’s a lot. i blog about it every day.
4:54pmKristiné
really?
4:54pmDan
be more specific. which site is best? law issues? sit-n-go strategy?
4:55pmKristiné
(i don\’t get to read all of the blogs i want on even a weekly basis.. please don\’t take offense)
just generally about it.
4:55pmDan
um, ok, np, online poker is good.
4:55pmKristiné
hmmm.. i know. this is random.
my cousin\’s brother plays on there a lot. i was just curious
4:55pmDan
i support barney frank\’s efforts to regulate it.
4:56pmKristiné
how so? why does it need regulation and what kind of regulation? (remember i know NADA)
4:57pmDan
i suppose i should have my elevator pitch on this down, but you are asking very vague, complex questions.
4:57pmKristiné
oh, sorry.
4:57pmDan
like what if i were a foreigner and i said, \”what is America all about\”
4:57pmKristiné
hahah
sorry
4:57pmDan
here\’s a good post about the size of the industry:
http://old.pokerati.com/2009/03/05/s-poker-index/
4:57pmKristiné
vanessa and i are laughing
4:57pmDan
vanessa rousso?
4:58pmKristiné
no.
my cousin.
her brother plays on full tilt all of the time
so, i was just curious.
so, what is the regulation for – can you describe that generally or no?
4:58pmDan
and here is a post about some current legal stuff related to it:
http://old.pokerati.com/2009/03/13/raymer-representin-for-ppa/
we want to fully legitimize it so these companies can base themselves in the us, offer protections to ensure the sites are run legit, and it would generate billions in tax revenue.
4:59pmKristiné
ahhh
okay. what i thought
most are in random countries for thos reasons.
4:59pmDan
it\’s also a great way to learn the game …
5:00pmKristiné
lol
so, regulation was what i thought.
okay. phew.
5:00pmDan
why phew?
5:00pmKristiné
not as ignorant as i though on the issues. ha.
that\’s why.
5:01pmDan
Full Tilt is one of the good companies.
Though a friend of mine has a $40 million lawsuit against them.
5:01pmKristiné
just curious. i guess he plays on full tilt and througout IL (where he can)
why?
5:01pmDan
that\’s a whole nother story. :):)
IL is a questionable state. but not as bad as washington state, louisiana, or kentucky.
kentucky has tried to sieze the domain names of 141 online gambling sites …
that case will go to the supreme court, imho.
5:02pmKristiné
wowsa
5:03pmDan
in washington state, even playing online is a felony equivalent to child molestation
5:03pmKristiné
what?
yowsa
5:03pmDan
it\’s crazy man!
5:03pmKristiné
no shit.
5:04pmDan
online poker has also launched many a career. if you are good, there are plenty of examples of kids who have turned a few thousand into more than a million bucks
5:04pmKristiné
i have heard that.
5:04pmDan
we also have our own bernie madoff.
a guy who was the head honcho at one of the online sites was cheating his own players.
he stole like $65 million.
but because the laws are so gray, he has not been prosecuted.
5:05pmKristiné
ouch
5:05pmDan
so guys like him are bad. the good people want regulation so we would have recourse against his ilk.
(and, hopefully would prevent it.)
5:06pmKristiné
um, yeah.
5:07pmDan
basically online poker is like online tock trading … but we\’re not allowed to make commercials with babies doing it.
5:07pmKristiné
lol
5:07pmDan
stock, not tock
lastly, the people who oppose it often are land-based gambling interests. but they are small-minded idiots … because they don\’t realize how online play can help them, as opposed to hurt them.
5:09pmKristiné
gotcha.
5:09pmDan
so you tell me … \”What are women all about?\”
5:09pmKristiné
hahaha.
5:09pmDan
How about, \”What is law?\”
5:09pmKristiné
stop. okay, okay.
i see your point.
5:10pmDan
Really, can we define love? :):)
5:10pmKristiné
okay. really. point made.
5:10pmDan
:P:P
5:11pmKristiné
smartass.
5:11pmDan
i have some 500 emails related to online poker in my inbox if you need backup info.
5:11pmKristiné
hahaha.
no. i\’m good.
5:12pmDan
you can play with the pros for free at fulltiltpoker.net
5:12pmKristiné
ahhhh
cool.
5:12pmDan
i can tell you can\’t wait to play.
5:12pmKristiné
some piont.. when i have time… in august
no, i do want to. i actually do. it\’s just about 35 on my list right now.
5:13pmDan
be sure to use bonus code \”pokerati\” … then i get a piece of your action.
5:13pmKristiné
hahahahaha
Dan
i will probably turn this chat into a post … as we have had many convos lately about educating the non-poker public.
5:14pmKristiné
oh dear.
don\’t out me.. character and fitness!
kristine need to pass bar!
5:14pmDan
i\’ll use first name only
5:14pmKristiné
so she can gamble with real money some day.
hahahah.
