Imagine that you are a brilliant inventor, and you just created the next big thing.  You think of a clever name for your product, calling it a "shooterbug".  This idea is big.  I'm talking Thomas Edison light bulb big.

Then, you sell your product on the internet.  The demand for your product grows at an exponential rate.  All of a sudden, sites are selling your product all over the world.  It's a perfectly legal product, and a perfectly legal business.

Then all of a sudden, you're told that you can't sell it anymore.

 

Does this sound familiar? 

 

Well, it should.  Because in a round-and-about sort of way, this happened last week. 

 

I'm talking about the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. 

 

This past Friday, President Bush signed a Port Security Bill into law.  So what does that have to do with gambling?  Well, that was my first question too.  And I'm still not sure that I have an answer. 

 

Relevant or not, this piece of legislation has serious implications for online gambling.  The bill doesn't make online gambling illegal, but it will prevent American gamblers from making online transactions with credit cards or bank accounts. 

 

In a statement about the Port Security Bill, President Bush had this to say: 

 

"We're going to protect our ports. We're going to defend this homeland, and we're going to win this war on terror." (According to pokernews.com) 

 

Huh?  Did I miss something?

 

To me, this makes about as much sense as an abstinence lecture presented by Paris Hilton.  What does internet gambling have to do with homeland security?  

 

  

A Lot of Questions

This turn of events left me with a lot of questions.  I'm no legal expert, but even my feeble mind can sense that something isn't quite right.

 

Is online poker even illegal?

Well, many of us have been playing poker online for years.  An article from washingtonpost.com estimates that "as many as 23 million Americans...wagered an estimated $6 billion last year."  The truth is...there is no specific law that makes online poker illegal.  The most relevant law is the 1961 Wire Act, and courts have already ruled that it does not apply to poker.

 

If they were so concerned about online poker, why didn't they just make it illegal?

This one is simple - it wouldn't do any good to make it illegal.  Most of the heavyweights in the online poker industry (such as PartyGaming) are offshore companies, which cannot be regulated by the United States government.  And enforcement at the consumer level would be virtually impossible.  So basically, they found a loophole.  Go after the banks!  Even though I disagree with the new restrictions, I must admit that their strategy to stop online gambling is solid.  Just curious, isn't this the same government that is losing the war on drugs...and perhaps terrorism?

 

What the heck am I supposed to do now?

On Friday the 13th, I tried to log in to my Party Poker account for a quick tournament.  To my surprise, I was no longer allowed to play.  Earlier in the week, I was informed that even if the bill was signed...it would still be awhile before it actually affected online play.  Wrong!  However, right now...this is a decision for each individual company.  While Party Poker and others have stopped serving American customers, several others are still willing to do so.  Luckily, Poker Stars was more than happy to take my money. 

 

What is the motivation?  

On the local TV news, they were interviewing citizens about this issue.  There was a bit of mixed reaction, but one response in particular caught my attention.  This guy said, "Sometimes the government has to protect those that can't protect themselves".  Say what?  Was he serious?  It would be nice to believe that this law was created to protect the greater good, but unfortunately...I don't live on Fantasy Island.  Almost every state government has a lottery - isn't that a form of gambling?  Last week, I walked into a convenience store and saw a homeless guy on crutches buying scratch-off lottery tickets.  He would buy several at a time, and scratch them off right there in the store.  When he got a winner, he traded it in for more lottery tickets.  The stench of irony consumed the place, so I had to leave immediately.   

 

The Big Picture  

I won't pretend that this is the most important issue in our nation.  I've been ranting all weekend not because of the issue itself, but because of the principle of the matter.  If something like this is allowable, what does that mean for our future?  Does our government really want to protect us, or do they have ulterior motives?  What will stop them from taking away other liberties?

 

I once saw a bumper sticker that said "If guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns".  Think about that for a minute.  I realize that today's society often pushes the limits of ethics, and creates many tough decisions for our politicians.  But how much is too much when it comes to government involvement? 

 

I Still Want to Play  

Poker is a hobby that I enjoy, and when the dust settles...that won't change.  However, I don't want to be a criminal.  My only alternative is to purchase a few gallons of over-priced gasoline (not even gonna get in to that issue now) and drive my Chevy 3 hours to the nearest casino.  There, I can enjoy a smoke-filled room with expensive drinks and rude waitresses.  Not exactly a Vegas atmosphere.

 

I have dreamed of one day playing in the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Thanks to this new law, the greatest poker tournament on the planet more than likely will no longer accept online qualifiers.  At least that's the rumor.  I suspect that many other Americans (about 23 million of them) shared that same dream.  Has that dream come to an end? 

 

---

To follow developments on this topic, visit www.pokernews.com