Mastercard - Speak to your reps NOW.

[nitro]

Firstly you've got the hassle to buy them and then you have to do the funding/withdrawals via international bankwires or something like that so it's way to cumbersome...(and could be screwed up anytime by visa/mc of course)

[TheGooner]

Originally Posted by baldidiot

Could US players use pre-paid cards (mastercard and visa both offer them) that were bought abroad?

If so, a simple solution could be for somebody to start importing them for this use. Or is this a dumb idea?

It's not a dumb idea - but it's got the same problem as Nitro's idea - in that it requires thinking and planing beforehand - rather than getting online searching for a casino and playing tonight.

Joe Public has to go out and specficially purchase this card with an idea of joining an online gambling site in his mind. And if Joe Public has read that they're designed for gambling use - and that's a commonly held notion - then you'll find that there are few major outlets that will sell them.

Again - it's a solution that will work for hard-core regulars, but will have problems getting pentration into the general public.

Additionally if there is any sort of fee attached (ie it costs $105 to buy a card with $100 credit on it) then it's going to meet consumer resistance.

So without a profit motive for the retailer - and with the threat of UIGEA hanging over distributors heads - the people that really need to do this are the offshore gambling instituitons (or an umbrella company) - as it's in their interest to propogate payment methods but they're hardly likely to set-up confiscateable assets in the US are they?

[Caruso]

Someone tell Pokerstars TheTimesOnline has libelled them:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle7015815.ece

Operators including PokerStars which continue to defy the US ban have been hit by a crackdown on internet gambling payments by Mastercard and Visa, the credit card companies.

[nitro]

Originally Posted by TheGooner

It's not a dumb idea - but it's got the same problem as Nitro's idea - in that it requires thinking and planing beforehand - rather than getting online searching for a casino and playing tonight.

That's not true - it requires next to no thinking and planning beforehand. The only difference is that you do not do let say a bankwire directly to a moneybookers bank account to do the funding but use an exchanger's bank account instead. It would actually improve the situation for US gamblers heavily because they would have a lot more payment options that they have now and can choose from at a cheaper cost because it's technically not a gambling transaction. The problems are how the banking sector would react to the idea of an "exchanger" and especially the regime to a payment system that cannot be controlled by the goverment - this seems to be the biggest problem because e-gold (the first company of this kind that is located in the US) was raided by US authorities a while ago under bogus claims so it looks like that the regime kind of dislikes the idea of uncontrolled money flow.

As far as the other idea goes it's simply far too much hassle for Joe from the public to order a credit card with the only intention to fund online gambling so only hardcore gamblers would go for it.

[arkyt]

Originally Posted by nitro

The only difference is that you do not do let say a bankwire directly to a moneybookers bank account to do the funding but use an exchanger's bank account instead.

I think its the wrong approach to look for ways around the fence - if they put up a fence (wether they are right or not) its because they don't want you in. If you look and find a way around the fence you aren't going to be looked at as a friend, but instead a foe.

This industry has been doing this for years now - spending loads of time and effort to find ways to get around obstacles instead of working harder to eliminate those obstacles. IMO that makes the industry look crooked.

Get the job done and get it done the right way and we will all be better off for it!

[joeyl]

Normally agree with you Arkyo. You try appeasing this uigee mob with sound logic and you're just racing to get to the bottom.

Viva Las Vegas. When they shut it down, then they can ban baccarat.

You'll be back on the hooch over there if you're not careful.

[nitro]

Originally Posted by arkyt

Get the job done and get it done the right way and we will all be better off for it!

Just look at a typical state run lottery over here in Europe where a goverment collects half of the money that was put in by the gamblers. This rip off is a "job" done the right way - as a goverment understands it - because the payout rates could be like 90-95% if the lottery would be setup properly via online gambling. The current "legalization" trend aims to prevent this kind of development and you'll for sure not be better off!

[arkyt]

Originally Posted by nitro

Just look at a typical state run lottery over here in Europe where a goverment collects half of the money that was put in by the gamblers. This rip off is a "job" done the right way - as a goverment understands it - because the payout rates could be like 90-95% if the lottery would be setup properly via online gambling. The current "legalization" trend aims to prevent this kind of development and you'll for sure not be better off!

I agree its not right, but as long as they are in control what they say goes. Same boat the sites like GPWA / CAP - both HUGE cash farms spending money like it grows on trees at conferences every 3-4 months. As long as the majority sit by and ignore their parties - they will continue to have them - doesnt mean they are right. In fact they truly dont help the majority in this industry - they benefit a few. They participate not to help all, but to help themselves. Until the masses stand up and take back government / what ever else that fits the bill, we can expect to continue to be pissed on.

[Captain]

Fuck, I am sick with the whole fucking mess. I wished we could go back to the time we did not have this UIGAC or what ever the fuck the spelling is. It has destroyed me on top of everything else.

I still love my friends here in this industry that has been there in my darkest day.

[nitro]

Originally Posted by arkyt

I agree its not right, but as long as they are in control what they say goes.

This is not the case here. A goverment is not able to control the internet and the licencing jurisdictions. Given the model presented above it will be next to impossible for a goverment to control the flow of money. Only if you have the option to stay or go "illegal" when you like it to you will be able to go for a legalization process later on that will not end up being ripped off but for one where you will be able to dictate the conditions.