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Oppose the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
- 2-12-2010
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed with applause from Congressional Republicans and with much gnashing of teeth from poker players and their allies like Barney Frank (D-MA). Perhaps the most common argument by poker players against the UIGEA is that it restricts their ability to play poker. This is a valid argument but there are many more reasons why you may find yourself standing in opposition to the UIGEA.
The UIGEA is just plain old anti-American. When you think of America you conjure up images of economic freedom. The main thrust of the UIGEA is a restriction of commerce between financial institutions and online poker rooms. A poker player’s ability to make deposits to their favorite online poker room are severely restricted and in some cases removed. American players are no longer free to make their own decision as the government has removed that option from them.
When a new player sits down and starts to do some research online about poker they may start to find different articles about the UIGEA and could believe that playing online is against the law. This belief may prevent them from playing online poker. This initial barrier to entry prevents new players from getting involved in one of the fastest growing industries. The ease and convenience of online poker is replaced by long trudges to brick and mortar casino. As an online poker player you should want as large of a player pool as possible. It is good for the game to have new players coming in.
Prohibition just does not work. In the early 1920’s the United States government tried to prevent alcohol from being sold or consumed. Instead of wiping out the evils of alcohol it created cottage industries of smugglers and speakeasies. The result was a futile attempt from American law enforcement to stem the flow of alcohol. Prohibition worked so poorly the United States passed another constitutional amendment to repeal that law. The UIGEA seeks to prevent people from playing online poker by going after the financial institutions that would fund player accounts via deposits. Instead of looking to take advantage of a potential new revenue stream, the government has used a 1920’s era tool to stop online poker players. A more efficient use of government resources would be to regulate and tax online poker instead of using antiquated prohibition measures.
The battle over the UIGEA is far from over. Poker players have mobilized and joined the Poker Players Alliance to have their voice represented in Washington, D.C. If you want to stand up for yourself as a poker player then reading this article is just the first step to educating yourself. There are many poker players who feel their freedoms are being infringed and they are doing what they can to stand in opposition to the UIGEA.
Discuss this article in our forum
The UIGEA is just plain old anti-American. When you think of America you conjure up images of economic freedom. The main thrust of the UIGEA is a restriction of commerce between financial institutions and online poker rooms. A poker player’s ability to make deposits to their favorite online poker room are severely restricted and in some cases removed. American players are no longer free to make their own decision as the government has removed that option from them.
When a new player sits down and starts to do some research online about poker they may start to find different articles about the UIGEA and could believe that playing online is against the law. This belief may prevent them from playing online poker. This initial barrier to entry prevents new players from getting involved in one of the fastest growing industries. The ease and convenience of online poker is replaced by long trudges to brick and mortar casino. As an online poker player you should want as large of a player pool as possible. It is good for the game to have new players coming in.
Prohibition just does not work. In the early 1920’s the United States government tried to prevent alcohol from being sold or consumed. Instead of wiping out the evils of alcohol it created cottage industries of smugglers and speakeasies. The result was a futile attempt from American law enforcement to stem the flow of alcohol. Prohibition worked so poorly the United States passed another constitutional amendment to repeal that law. The UIGEA seeks to prevent people from playing online poker by going after the financial institutions that would fund player accounts via deposits. Instead of looking to take advantage of a potential new revenue stream, the government has used a 1920’s era tool to stop online poker players. A more efficient use of government resources would be to regulate and tax online poker instead of using antiquated prohibition measures.
The battle over the UIGEA is far from over. Poker players have mobilized and joined the Poker Players Alliance to have their voice represented in Washington, D.C. If you want to stand up for yourself as a poker player then reading this article is just the first step to educating yourself. There are many poker players who feel their freedoms are being infringed and they are doing what they can to stand in opposition to the UIGEA.
Discuss this article in our forum