Originally posted on 04/16/2011:

Quote Originally Posted by Lint Pockets View Post
PartyPoker was smart back when all this happened in 2006 and paid off the US Government. They did this because they knew when the US passed a law to legalize online poker that the US would let them come back in the market. The joke sites PokerStars and Full Tilt on the other hand kept on pulling shady illegal sh*t on the US Government while still using their banks and processors. I actually liked PartyPoker back when they allowed USA players to play there and i hope when this bill does get passed that PartyPoker will accept USA players once again. F*ck PokerStars and Full Tilt they had this coming and deserve everything they get
I simply don't understand this perspective from Americans that supposively support personal freedom.

The only thing that these sites did that was "shady" was to find ways to fairly and cost effectively provide money transfer services that their customers expected/demanded. In no way did these companies take money unfairly from its customers, people logged on, put money in of their own free will and played poker. Whether customer's claimed anything on their income taxes is irrelevant.

Also, the only reason these companies were doing anything "shady" was because the US government deems when and where you are allowed to spend your money. They arbitrarily decided what you are allowed to gamble your money on. Vegas, AC, Indian Casinos, off-track betting, lotteries are all fine, but not online poker. That is the very definitation of arbitrary and non-democratic.

Whether you are a democrat, republican or any political party, and whether you like online poker or not, it is my opinion that you should despise everything to do with the UIGEA and anything related to these arbitrary gambling laws and crackdowns.

No reasonable person would argue with reasonable regulations/controls on gambling, in order to protect its citizens but making it illegal and forcing people and companies to operate in "shady" ways to do what should be their personal freedom to do so. It does the exactly the opposite, it exposes their citizens to scams and lessens/negates their protections and rights.

Lets get the american people to argue about real issues and protect their freedoms instead of the imature and inane arguements that just distract and divide you.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Cheers