All-in: The Battle of U.S. internet gamblers against their government.

"Land of the free, home of the brave"

Land of the free my ass, U.S national anthem! We're talking about living in a country that's more confused than Johnny Damon in left-field. Our government just can't seem to get it's shit together about providing health-care, the situation with our troops overseas, and whether or not a man should be allowed to marry another man. While these issues are certainly extremely important, the government hasn't directly impacted me with their bullshit until now: the battle to save internet poker in the United States.

Back in late 2006 a republican congressman from Tennessee, Bill Frist, "attached" the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to a bill that had already been passed in Congress, the Port Security Act. (We won't even get into his other scandals). This act would essentially make it illegal for U.S. banks to process online gaming transactions - making it markedly more difficult for Americans to deposit their hard-earned money onto internet poker websites. What Frist did was essentially add this nonsensical bit of law onto the Port Security Act at midnight on the eve of U.S. elections. President Bush signed off - a piece of information that is useless considering George was probably looking into his magic 8-ball for the "right" decision...(or perhaps he was snorting a magic 8-ball at the time). Congress never even debated the subject! What malarkey! The country clearly has had WAY bigger fish to fry since then, so the UIGEA was thrown onto the backburner...until now. With December 1st, 2009 being the supposed date of "permanent regulation" for the bill, a slight bit of panic began to set in for us internet gambling folk, and action was deemed necessary. Some 1 million internet poker players and supporters from around the country have formed a coalition known as the "PPA" - Poker Players Alliance. Backed by popular MA senator Barney Frank, Nassau County Congressman Peter King, and former NY State Senator Al D'Amato among others, the PPA has effectively delayed the full implementation of the UIGEA for another year. However, it is a war that is far from over.

My question is, how can America's government be so blind? First of all, it's a citizen's RIGHT if he wants to take his hard-earned money and use it to play poker on the internet. Here's a thought: a man (or woman) goes to Atlantic City for the weekend. He or she loses $200 playing poker at the Borgata casino, but has a great time. What is the difference if that same person decides they want a similar experience, but from the comfort of their own home? I don't really see much of a difference, either. Oh, taxation? EARTH TO U.S. GOVERNMENT - Poker players and sites alike have both mentioned they would agree to a taxing of income in exchange for the full legality of online poker in the USA. Hear that, government? Internet poker sites earn so much income per day its nearly impossible to fathom and/or calculate. Remember that little national debt problem? Experts predict the taxation/regulation of internet gambling could save the economy, and bring the country out of national debt in 10 years. WOW! Proponents of the UIGEA have argued that the law protects minors from become gamblers, and likewise prevents degenerates from having their problems expand. You bring up a good point there, guys. EXCEPT that you are ignoring how most major internet poker sites have already safeguards put into place with rigorous age-verification techniques, identity checks for player deposits, and numerous options to limit the amount a player can gamble per day, week, month, and year. The government would have to simply oversee these safeguards and there would be absolutely no problem.

Yes, I'm a card player. I play online poker just about every single day. Call my opinion skewed if you want to. But I don't believe there is any reason that a man can't come home from work and relax by playing an online poker tournament, if that is what he enjoys. You don't have to be Boku87 to get a kick out of the game. Heck, you could be someone who has never gambled a dollar in your life and still understand why this bill is an intrusion of our rights. If alcohol and cigarettes are legal and taxed in this country, there is absolutely no reason for internet poker to be unlawful.

If you agree with me and want to help in the fight to save internet poker, please click this link to join the PPA and send love letters to your local politicians letting them know how bad they are fucking up if they don't make online poker legal. On a final note, it's well known that President Obama is a poker player, and apparently he's not bad! Smarten up, Mr. Obama. Throw us a bone here. And while you're at it, do you think I might be invited to the White House game? I promise I'm not a shark or anything...

-BD