Breaking News: DOJ says only sportsbetting violates Wire Act

[TheOnlyPoker]

Sounds like BS to me.

A couple of other thoughts to tack on: for me personally, probably like all operators in the business of online gaming since this news broke, i have been focused on analyzing the matter. I have read and studied every snippet of info, every data on each of the seven statutes i could find. The post content you commented on above is the one that most identically aligns with my own personal synopsis. It does not mean that i am right, or that the writer is bang on either, only that he has an opinion which i strongly concur with. And, like it or not, we each in our own way have to follow our own inner direction, i.e. what the voice inside our head is telling us. I agree almost to the letter, with the man. I have to say, that i am rather disappointed by my own conclusion. Disheartened, is maybe a better way to say it. However, reality is what it is, and we ultimately must bear the cross of our own reality, and be true to our belief in it.
I hope that explains why i believe the man's opinion is fair and square. Yes, my agreement is wholly subjective, and yes, i greatly respect his opinion because i agree with it. But i don't think that's an agenda, rather its just a point of view that i must honestly live with, and bear the consequences of, something that logically or naturally follows from such a belief.

[lots0]

However, we who are in the business have our hind-end on the line, 'big time', if you get what i'm saying.

Theonlypker is NOT in the business...
His affiliate program does not exist.
The info theonlypoker is putting out here is misleading.

Why would someone NOT in the business want us to think he is?

why would someone not in the business(who wants us to think he is), be interested in this particular subject and take a position the the same as the government's???

[TheOnlyPoker]

I'll leave it to the Mod, who knows we are in the business, to stuff a sock in your nasty mouth. And leave it at that.

[Anthony]

Alright guys, let's try to have a discussion without attacking each other.

[lots0]

I am not attacking anyone personally (unlike theonlypoker), I am just questioning his(theonlypoker's) credibility.

He shows up here, only having posted in this thread, takes the government stance.
I do some checking and find out the non-sponsor affiliate program he has in his tag line does not exist.

I think it is totally justifiable to question theonlypoker's motives and credibility.

His only response has been to personally attack me... hmmm

[Caruso]

Someone "not in the business" can have the best perspective. No baggage.

Affiliates can get blinded by their zeal and not take a balanced view. Look at the explosion of delirium over the DOJ statement. I was saying from the start, seriously, the news here is what? Now,looks like that thing has in fact gone full circle with the news of the Barton Bill.

I've had enough people attacking my "motives and credibility", most notably when refusing to toe the bullshit eCOGRA line but others as well, to not have much sympathy for that particular tactic.

[Anthony]

We all have been waiting for anything positive for some time now. So when there is news that on the surface looks good we all tend to jump on it. But like everything else, if it sounds too good to be true - it usually is. When you look further and read between the lines a different picture forms, there is always an angle.

[Dominique]

My take on this is this:

1. For years the DOJ maintained that all online gambling is illegal on a federal level. The only federal law that could be stretched to cover this was the wire act. Anyone could see it applied specifically to sports, but the DOJ turned a blind eye to it. Now the DOJ agrees to the obvious.

2. For years the US has been actively driving offshore operators out of the US market place by various means. Now, the great majority has left and there is a vacuum waiting for someone licenced to enter.

3. Various places (Party, 888 for example) have been positioning themselves to enter the market. Various states have been pushing for local legislation that will allow them to enter the market. The DOJ statement just paved the way for them to do so.

4. The statement has opened discussion of the subject on many levels and it will now accellerate federal regulation.

5. Mission accomplished - the US has cleared the path for their own operators to take over the market. All they need now is federal regulation. My guess is that we will see a lot of activity on that level in 2012, as well as on the state level. The states will likely move first, and then they will seek a federal law because they will see the severe restrictions state licencing puts on them. They will all want a piece of the whole pie.

6. Whether all of this results in a positive environment for affiliates is yet to be seen.


So, I see this as a first meaningful step towards actual regulation.

It is time for US affiliates to pay close attention and weigh in on proposed regulation, such as the Barton bill. It is up to us to try and help steer this in a favorable direction. If we were a more organized group, we would prepare to lobby now.

The DOJ statement is not the end all for our troubles. It is the beginning of a resolution.

[alexpratt]

We have organised a free webinar for next week (US friendly time) with Professor I Nelson Rose talking about this - Should be good http://www.igamingbusiness.com/conte...-facebook-move

[lots0]

Alex, maybe I'm missing something, but your link goes to a page about "IGT set for Facebook move".
I don't see anything about a webinar...

I would like to sign up or attend if possible.

[lots0]

RE: the so called BARTON Bill.

According to several law makers, both Democrat and Republican, the Barton bill will be shelved in committee when it hits the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

"Shelved in Committee" means... the Bill has been **** canned and will never see a vote on the floor of Congress and will never become law.

[alexpratt]

Sorry, too many links!! Here you go http://www.igamingbusiness.com/conte...ans-gaming-usa

[TheOnlyPoker]

RE: the so called BARTON Bill.

According to several law makers, both Democrat and Republican, the Barton bill will be shelved in committee when it hits the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

"Shelved in Committee" means... the Bill has been **** canned and will never see a vote on the floor of Congress and will never become law.

Is there some reason given? Ever since i entered this discussion, i have been having a regular discussion with my peers about whether gaming is intrinsically legal, or illegal unless ruled otherwise, (in the US). This reference (of yours) seems to speak to that undercurrent, or foundation issue, call it whatever. The boys and girls on 2+2 have hammered this issue out well.

[lots0]

Is there some reason given? Ever since i entered this discussion, i have been having a regular discussion with my peers...

And just who are your peers? The boys and girls at the DOJ?

[TheOnlyPoker]

And just who are your peers? The boys and girls at the DOJ?

No.

And why not try an intellectual approach, where one might discuss the actual ideas in play.

[lots0]

Mr. theonlypoker, I do not believe you are who you say you are.
That being said...

People in this country are tired of being told they are "Free" and then in the same breath being told, by the government, how to live their lives, how to raise their children, what games they can play or not, how to spend or not spend their hard earned money, what drugs they can take or not take, who they can have sex with... All that and much more...

All in the name of making a few people even more money and giving them more power than they already have...

People are tired of it... tired of legislated morality forced on us by people with no morals (Congress).

America is changing.. we are not going to put with this kind of 'phony' Freedom any longer.

That's my take on why the BARTON BILL will be shelved.

P.S. I almost forgot, the American people are also very tired of getting spied on by our own government...

[boczom1]

P.S. I almost forgot, the American people are also very tired of getting spied on by our own government...

I agree, but I think the whole internet in general is causing this type of widespread paranoia.

Heck, what baffles me is how dumb 800 million active users use Facebook...which was created by former hackers. Who basically wanna hack more information (comments) from their users by throwing 'Timeline' on everyone.

Making 'Timeline' mandatory means billions of more 'comment' pages getting indexed in Google...which means a ton more revenue for them since banners will now be on these newly created 'comment' pages.

Why isn't there widespread protest from Facebook users regarding this ? I'm guessing Facebook feels like their too big to fail, and can practically do anything at will now..

went a little OT there...my bad.

[TheOnlyPoker]

Something like this document needs to be pushed/lobbied by advocacy groups.

Poker Players Bill Of Rights

[lots0]

I agree, but I think the whole internet in general is causing this type of widespread paranoia.

Heck, what baffles me is how dumb 800 million active users use Facebook...which was created by former hackers. Who basically wanna hack more information (comments) from their users by throwing 'Timeline' on everyone.

Making 'Timeline' mandatory means billions of more 'comment' pages getting indexed in Google...which means a ton more revenue for them since banners will now be on these newly created 'comment' pages.

Why isn't there widespread protest from Facebook users regarding this ? I'm guessing Facebook feels like their too big to fail, and can practically do anything at will now..

went a little OT there...my bad.

What feeds my Paranioa is the Patriot_Act and the additions that Obama has made to it.
We are being spied on.. By our own government, because they are scared... they screwed up and pissed everyone off and now they are scared so they start spying on their OWN people.

As far as FB goes, I would not give those people any of my personal info.

.... And it is not just the people that started FB, that are the problem (IMO), it is the investors that put tens of millions of dollars into it's development... There are some really really bad guys on that list of original investors.

[boczom1]

What feeds my Paranioa is the Patriot_Act and the additions that Obama has made to it.
We are being spied on.. By our own government, because they are scared... they screwed up and pissed everyone off and now they are scared so they start spying on their OWN people.

I think their more bored and have nothing else to do...rather than being scared.

But it's normal in this business line for us to feel this way...as we never know what their up to , or what kind of new law they'll pull outta their ass tomorrow or the next day..