Online Poker in the US: The Perfect Pitch for Regulation – Possibly?
With online poker legislation looming, or possibly looming in the US; there are many pundits out there, who would like to see things taken care of their own way. Just a couple of short weeks ago, the AGA took up the fight and an another US Gambling concern has had an about-face regarding online poker. The American Gambling Association has been anti-online gambling, until the recent Full Tilt farce which has truly thrown the baby out with the bath water.
Online poker players are finally standing up for their rights and demanding that poker online be made legal. It’s a pity players did not group and stand up for their rights before they got swindled, this could have made a huge difference to their lives and to the industry as a whole. It retrospect, the damage makes very little difference to the lives of legislators – does it?
That good online poker policy is essential has come to light at a very high price indeed. However some industry experts believe that a rush to regulate may not be an altogether good thing. They recon, and we believe rightly so, that if Congress does not get online poker laws right the first time around, it will only do more harm to the industry and as a consequence, the players of this game. In a plea to Congress to get things right the first time around, we are seeing Top Ten Wish Lists and all sorts of suggestions, but with no input from the people who play poker online, how will law-makers who have never played, be expected to get regulation right?
One of the wish lists that we read, asks for:
- The allowing of direct registration from online satellites to live events. Apparently banning this would be a big mistake.
- Eliminating rake-back – according to our intrepid wishee – rake-back only rewards high volume players. He would prefer to see bonuses instead.
- Regulation of the staking market. Online players should not be allowed to sell pieces of themselves. We don’t know about this, it may be as hard to regulate as prostitution?
- Linking of loyalty programmes between land and online casinos – good idea, no argument from us there.
- Allow world-wide play. We think he is being a bit too optimistic. Even new European markets are opening up under segregated licensing principles.
- Ban hand history and data mining sale. We agree, find out what you can about your opponents by playing against them, this is part of what makes poker a game of skill.
- Stiff penalties foe collusion and cheating – but of course, does the obvious need to be stated? Possibly.
- Rather than tax action – tax deposits. Oh yes, but perhaps only in a perfect world!
- Sites must hold player funds in segregated accounts – well… this is a no brainer.
We seem to have missed number 10, but we don’t think it matters all that much as we have run out of space anyway.