As most of you probably heard earlier this week, the US Attorney has shut down three major online poker sites, and handed our lawsuits to each. The three sites are Absolute Poker, Poker Stars, and Full Tilt Poker. The US Attorney's office has accused these sites of bank fraud, money laundering, and using loop holes to process payments from the US. The US Attorney's office has been building the case for years and officially charged 11 people and shut the sites down. The question I have for everyone is... What is the point? Lets explore what is happening.
The US Government is upset that Americans are gambling online. Why would this be? We could get up get dressed, take a drive to the casino and play poker for hours and it would be perfectly legal. What is the difference between laying on the couch watching sports and playing some poker online and going to the casino? The answer my friends is taxed revenue. The government makes billions of dollars from casinos each year. They aren't getting a cut of online poker and that isn't going to sit well with Uncle Sam. I completely understand the way the world works, and feel there's a better solution. Do not make it illegal to play online poker, just tax it. We pay tax on just about everything, so whats the big deal. These websites aren't going to fight a tax because they make billions each year from American players. However that doesnt seem to be happening here. Now "we" the American people are going to be inconvenienced by not having online poker AND our tax dollars are going to be wasted in a long cat and mouse battle between poker companies and their lawyers and the US Attorneys staff.
Here's the solution.... US - tax the sites and make billions.... Poker sites - agree to the tax and make billions.... American public - have fun playing poker and spending billions.
Always interested in questions, comments, and counter arguments!
Phil
TheDukeofSaucingham
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