Is online poker legal ... in your jurisdiction?

nevadanick · Mar 7, 2009

Bump, bump, for a good cause...

Why? 'Cause' it would help our member if you answered some questions in her survey to help with a study on problem gamblers. Doesn't take very long. Please.... and thank you ...

Please take the survey: www.effectiveresponsiblegamblingfeatures.blogspot. com

1rainbow · Mar 7, 2009

as far as gambling goes, if it's not legislated here, it's illegal but as far as online goes, if a site allows it then there's not much they can do about it

FURLONGS · Mar 7, 2009

bankroll

Its funny to me that pokerstars has a system with western union now for us players. You wire your money to Jose the costa rican or his uncle , brother, or sister(changes often) and they put the money on the site for you. Of course you have to wire cash. Hilarious.
furlongs

1rainbow · Mar 7, 2009

yea that one's so funny i forgot to laugh

NoWuckingFurries · Mar 7, 2009

OOOOO said:
It's totally legal here in the UK & the winnings don't get taxed! The government were even going to build a giant casino in Manchester but they eventually realised it was a bad idea.

It wasn't a bad idea, it just didn't fit in with Gordon Brown's plans for world domination.

herlis · Mar 8, 2009

i am not actually sure if it is legal but i do think online poker is legal here in Manila cause casinos here has poker in them and casinos are expanding here and we have casinos here in almost every city if that legal then most probably online poker should be lagal too.

carjaw · Mar 9, 2009

Hi - you know what? After many posts by helpful members - things are (to me!) as clear as mud! I honestly dont think I am any clearer on this point than when I started!!

carjaw · Mar 9, 2009

On a deeper note - why is it illegal in some / many jurisdictions? Particularly the US? As I understand it - the UIGEA was required because the Internet means that it is likely that far more people will incur a problem with their gambling because of the factors such as anonymity, accessibility, 24 / 7 play, no interruptions. I have been carrying out a study (as some of you might know) regarding certain website features which may be helpful to players who feel their gambling is becoming a problem - and this is not some sort of hijacking of a thread but I have had so many (really so so so many) problems with forum members who claim that they cant help me out because they do not gamble because they only play online poker and so dont use gambling websites. But does this lack of clarity about online poker being legal mean that in the eyes of US law (UIGEA) that online poker is a form of gambling? So - I was just wondering for the parts of the world and parts of the US or is it all of the US - why is it illegal? Or what is the argument used to make it illegal?

DuaneK · Mar 10, 2009

I signed up for the WPT club. Recived an email stating it was ilegal in Michigan for them to accept me. I wonder if I use an postoffice general deliverly address if it would go through? Might try it just to see.
DuaneK

BelgoSuisse · Mar 10, 2009

carjaw said:
On a deeper note - why is it illegal in some / many jurisdictions? Particularly the US? As I understand it - the UIGEA was required because the Internet means that it is likely that far more people will incur a problem with their gambling because of the factors such as anonymity, accessibility, 24 / 7 play, no interruptions.

That's usually the official reason, yes.

Practically, though, in most cases the issue is either catering to special interests (brick and mortar casinos) or maintaining the fiscal revenues from state monopolies.

The French case is interesting. Historically, the state monopoly (Française des jeux) has always been completely shameless in its marketing to increase its player base, including the launch of games specifically targeting children using cartoon characters, automatic lottery ticket dispensers, lotteries awarding prizes every 5 minutes and the likes.

Now that the European Union is finally forcing France to give up on its monopoly and open up competition on the internet, there will actually introduce some responsible gambling restrictions which will make many practises of the state company illegal.

Of course, for the last few years the French goverment was defending its monopoly as a way to protect potential problem gamblers. Isn't it funny that they will actually be better protected once the monopoly disappears?

rugby0 · Mar 10, 2009

In the state of missouri, the law is very clear. If you are playing a game if chance then you are gambling. The online/ face to face situation is never an issue. However you are allowed to gamble in a casino. The definition of gambling is very murky.

BC7Falcons7 · Mar 10, 2009

online poker legal

I live in Wichita Kansas and yes online poker is legal here. As far as I know. I have not cashed out in a while, but to answer your question, online poker is legal in Wichita Kansas.

GrisGrisAA · Mar 10, 2009

As to the question about depositing money - I found that e-checks are the easiest and fastest. Cashing out with them hasn't been a problem for me either in the US

1rainbow · Mar 11, 2009

well if you are in the US you try downloading & playing at some sites, even for fun, it can't be done, so if they make it illegal, it's illegal period

as for the states banned, well they have casinos & are so called regulated by the state they are in, in other words, if they get a cut it's ok, if not then you're screwed

most banks just rather not get involved because of the FDIC & i can understand that, if a site closes the banks are afraid it'll fall on them, so i can understand them keeping our $ safe

rugby0 · Mar 15, 2009

In most states it is the chance verus skill arguement. I can find no studies that show any form of poker is skill based. We all know that the out come of each hand is random of the game is just based on the cards but the game is so much more. If you know of a quality study if the other factors in the game please post it here. thanks.

carjaw · Mar 15, 2009

This is where I think I am. Some countries ban most or all forms of Internet gambling: USA, China, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Portugal, Bermuda (Wood and Williams, 2009). Some countries have either completely legalised all forms of Internet gambling to residents and non-residents alike, to gamble within and outside the country: Gibraltar, Antigua and Barbuda, Malta, Dutch Antilles, Panama (Wood and Williams, 2009). Some countries (Sweden, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, New Zealand) allow certain forms of Internet gambling (lotteries, sports and or race books, and games of skill including poker) but prohibit other forms illegal (usually casino games). Some countries permit only residents to access Internet gambling sites (Finland, Austria, Norway, Canadian provinces). Some countries ban accessing Internet gambling outside the country (Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden). Finally, asome countries operate Internet gambling, but ban residents from accessing these sites (Australia, Papua New Guinea) (Wood and Williams, 2009). Young and Todd (2008) report that where governments have banned Internet gambling, for example in the US (2006) and Germany (2008) gamblers have found ways round the ban. So I am really - none the wiser!

LarryT503 · Mar 15, 2009

I usually just play on my freeroll winnings, but it is possible to make deposits and withdrawals using some phone cards instead of credit or debit cards. Not illegal yet, but the state hates competition!

Washout · Mar 16, 2009

I think alot US problem they arent getting to tax on money you win they want there share too and cant get it,putting $$ on isnt hard but getting your $$ out them sites can be a headache at times>

chefjimmy · Mar 16, 2009

ok again....

yes they are restricting means of depositing in the u.s.,but just recently a judge in georgia ruled poker a game of skill{this is very important}because the legislation covers games of chance.so with this new legal precedant established all laws can be contested i.e.banking regulations.but the problem remains...there is no licensing authority,there is no regulation..we need that..as withthe AP and UB scandals...what did they face...nothing..we do need a regulating authority.

1rainbow · Mar 16, 2009

i have noticed more german players than ever playing online, wonder what they are doing to get around it

carjaw said:
This is where I think I am. Some countries ban most or all forms of Internet gambling: USA, China, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Portugal, Bermuda (Wood and Williams, 2009). Some countries have either completely legalised all forms of Internet gambling to residents and non-residents alike, to gamble within and outside the country: Gibraltar, Antigua and Barbuda, Malta, Dutch Antilles, Panama (Wood and Williams, 2009). Some countries (Sweden, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, New Zealand) allow certain forms of Internet gambling (lotteries, sports and or race books, and games of skill including poker) but prohibit other forms illegal (usually casino games). Some countries permit only residents to access Internet gambling sites (Finland, Austria, Norway, Canadian provinces). Some countries ban accessing Internet gambling outside the country (Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden). Finally, asome countries operate Internet gambling, but ban residents from accessing these sites (Australia, Papua New Guinea) (Wood and Williams, 2009). Young and Todd (2008) report that where governments have banned Internet gambling, for example in the US (2006) and Germany (2008) gamblers have found ways round the ban. So I am really - none the wiser!

BelgoSuisse · Mar 16, 2009

1rainbow said:
i have noticed more german players than ever playing online, wonder what they are doing to get around it

they don't need to "get around it". The ban is not enforced in any way. Enforcing it would actually be against EU law, so players would just need to move their case up to the European courts and get a get out of jail free card.

European laws says that a country can make gambling illegal if it thinks it's best for its people, but then it must also make its own state-own lotteries illegal. Otherwise, gambling must be open to competition.

So if protecting problem gamblers was indeed the reason to restrict online gambling, the solution would be very easy: make gambling illegal altogether. of course that's not the real reason. The real point is tax revenues.

1rainbow · Mar 16, 2009

yea that sounds like a lot of rhetoric that we hear in the US all the time
if they can get our taxes from it they are ok with it, if not, then we can't do it lol

Wonka22 · Mar 17, 2009

Dorkus Malorkus said:
It's legal to play online poker anywhere in the US except Washington state and maybe Kentucky, I think. I don't recall any instances of anyone being arrested in either for playing online poker (or indeed "internet gambling") though.

It's illegal under the UIGEA for banks or payment processors to transfer money from US citizens to online 'gambling' service providers, which is why some payment processors such as Neteller closed their doors to US residents a while back.

Illegal in Michigan to even play AOL's wsop game for a VERY slim chance to get a free seat to the real WSOP. All poker in Michigan is illegal except they do have Vegas night exceptions for charity.

I live in New Mexico now...as far as I know....there are no laws banning internet gambling.

mattcounsil · Mar 17, 2009

In the state of PA

I am not 100% sure what the laws in the state of PA say but I have deposited on FTP and stars and have not had a problem with either. I have had contact with an individual associated with the PPA and he says that its is legal at the moment to pkay online poker.

carjaw · Mar 18, 2009

It was on 11 March 2009 that the European Parliament voted that ... 'gambling is not a product like any other' and by a vote of more than 500 members - member states can determine their own policies on internet gambling and so Germany will be able to make internet gambling illegal. However, it is once again a case of watch this space ...

Is online poker legal ... in your jurisdiction?

nevadanick

Back to work ... zzzzz

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