Free US Poker

Over the past few years we have been hearing quite a bit about the Poker Players Alliance. I know it may seem to be on the periphery for some but if you live in the United States maybe not. In 2006 the US passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act. In a nutshell it prohibits banks from doing transactions with online gambling sites. This means that US poker players have very few avenues in which to deposit money in their accounts. It also limits the number of poker rooms US poker players can play in because of it.

Personally, I have felt the effects of this bill. I used to be a long time bwin poker player until I had to move over to Full Tilt and PokerStars. True, this was when the poker boom was in its infancy and all but the move was still inconvenient nonetheless. I played and was successful where I felt most comfortable. Yes, I continue to do well both online and in cash games but the difference now is that I have very few choices. I do not like that one bit and neither should you.

The PPA Mission
The mission of the PPA is simple. The PPA’s mission is to provide poker players that play poker online and live a way to enjoy the game in a safe and regulated environment. The PPA also continues to both prove and promote the fact that poker is indeed a game of skill with a smaller element of luck involved.
There is no rocket science involved in understanding just what the PPA is all about here. The idea is that everyone should be allowed to participate in what most of us believe is the greatest game in the world – poker. So far the PPA has done a fantastic job of presenting the case of poker players to both the media as well as the government in an easy to understand and meaningful manner. This means that people like Barney Frank, D – Representative from Mass, can effectively help to present our case in a language that our law makers can understand.

Global Issue
Many poker players seem to think that banning online poker is only an US issue. That is not the case at all. There are other countries around the globe that for whatever their reasoning have banned online gambling and refuse to regulate it and count the revenue stream as viable. In my opinion this is a huge mistake and one that is rather easily corrected through education. One of the major problems the PPA faces is the idea that the game of poker is all luck based despite all of the documented evidence to the contrary.
It seems that the European states have figured out a way to make it work and everyone is benefiting from the game including the government. Do I believe that online poker players should be taxed like everyone else?

Absolutely!
I don’t believe there are many of us that would have a problem with paying taxes on our online winnings anymore than we would had we won the money in a brick and mortar casino. What’s the difference? The disappointing part of all of this is that the US, despite all of the examples from neighboring countries, still has not figured out how to bring this silly issue to a close. If the US would simply reach out to its friends around the globe you would find that the answers are only a phone call away.

How Long?
That is the question that many of us poker players continue to ask. How long will it take before any of the many bills submitted to congress and the senate pass? That is a question only time will answer. There have been delays for various reasons and honestly poker may not be high on the priority list at this time. Ultimately, I still believe this can be corrected in relatively short order with a little cooperation and understanding from both sides of the aisle.
Let’s hope that this issue is resolved soon for all of our sakes. If the US tips in favor of online poker it would go a long way in influencing other countries to do the same. That would be a win situation for all of us involved.
We can only hope.
Curtis Mayfield III