'Black Friday' and associated fallout megathread

[S93]

Americans, seriously, do something about your government.
They say there all for low government involvement but they cant get there noses out of your bedroom,marriages and now hobby´s :S

 

[RamdeeBen]

Yeah the players on pokerstars are at lke 250,000 or something. That doesn't look somewhat much different to normal to be honest. I'm sure this won't really hurt stars as much as I first thought but still it isn't the same without the Americans playing.


The biggest joke about it all is the way the American government works. It's perfectly fine to have and use a gun, yet to sit in front of your computer screen at home and play a game of cards is illegal. Where's the logic in that?

What a joke.

 

[beantownmaniac]

As do I. I have read the law and find it somewhat amusing. Essentially it is void in any state which allows online gambling

Sec. 802. § 5362. 10

(B) INTRASTATE TRANSACTIONS.
The term 'unlawful Internet gambling' does not include placing, receiving, or otherwise transmitting a bet or wager where
(i) the bet or wager is initiated and received or otherwise made exclusively within a single State;
(ii) the bet or wager and the method by which the bet or wager is initiated and received or otherwise made is expressly authorized by and placed in accordance with the laws of such State, and the State law or regulations include-
(I) age and location verification requirements reasonably designed to block access to minors and persons located out of such State; and
(II) appropriate data security standards to prevent unauthorized access by any person whose age and current location has not been verified in accordance with such State's law regulations
​

So it seems our focus going forward will need to be dual; legalization of online poker in individual states, which is likely easier than the second part, legalization at a national level.

The law itself is rather sweeping, with applications far beyond online poker. It's also interesting that Sec. 803 (Internet gambling in or through foreign jurisdictions) fails to make any mention of the fact that it is likely a violation of at least two WTO agreements to which the US is party.

So, for example, here in Mass we have Greyhound racing as it has been banned, but the tracks are still open so you can off-track bet races in other states. Does that mean internet gambling is legal here?

 

[beantownmaniac]

It is really becoming clear to me that soon we will only be able to play on a US site licensed and regulated by the US government and run by one of the large BnM Vegas casinos.
That is fine with me but I am really worried about the costs, rakes, membership fees etc.
Without competition Vegas will be able to run them anyway they want

Check out this blog
http://thc-blackfridayforonlinepoker.blogspot.com/

The bold may be true, but I don't think the Internet poker sites run by American casino's will have any different rakes and costs as their live games. JMO

 

[JOEBOB69]

Yeah the players on pokerstars are at lke 250,000 or something. That doesn't look somewhat much different to normal to be honest. I'm sure this won't really hurt stars as much as I first thought but still it isn't the same without the Americans playing.


The biggest joke about it all is the way the American government works. It's perfectly fine to have and use a gun, yet to sit in front of your computer screen at home and play a game of cards is illegal. Where's the logic in that?

What a joke.

How the hell could there be anywhere close to the normal amount of players on stars this Sunday?Something is wrong here if the site is saying this is so.

 

[KerouacsDog]

Im guessing a lot of US players are logged on in protest, and are playing the play tables?

 

[JohnBoyWWFC]

On PokerStars, the number in the top corner is those playing at a table. Play Money does not count IIRC, though a player sitting at two tables counts twice. Something PokerStars SteveD said on the Pokercast on an episode a while back. Can't recall exact details, but the point is, merely being logged on won't count. I also recall on Friday when this news broke the numbers were around 230k on PS, within 3-4 hours it was around 130k. A VERY low number for a Friday evening.

 

[Brave_n_Crazy]

@Beantown - OTB for horseracing and its ilk is covered by the Interstate Horseracing Act. The UIGEA specifically states that it does not apply to or change the IHA. MA would have to pass a law legalizing online poker to get a pass from the UIGEA, or so it seems to a non-attorney.

 

[RamdeeBen]

How the hell could there be anywhere close to the normal amount of players on stars this Sunday?Something is wrong here if the site is saying this is so.

I'm not sure. However I'm also not 100% sure of how much there usually is as I've never taken a note as such, usually though when I've seen it, it's around the 220-250k mark and at present it's just short of 250k.

 

[Stick66]

Americans, seriously, do something about your government.

Would be nice if we could. But most of us feel powerless. There's too much of an equal separation in morals and ideals for any one side to win consistantly. Be the issue online poker, gay marriage, gun control, etc., etc., the issues are always split and it's pretty much a crap shoot to see if the side I vote for wins or loses.

In case anyone isn't paying attention: The US isn't a "free country". It's a "majority-rules country". Heaven help the ones who aren't part of the majority.

 

[RamdeeBen]

On PokerStars, the number in the top corner is those playing at a table. Play Money does not count IIRC, though a player sitting at two tables counts twice. Something PokerStars SteveD said on the Pokercast on an episode a while back. Can't recall exact details, but the point is, merely being logged on won't count. I also recall on Friday when this news broke the numbers were around 230k on PS, within 3-4 hours it was around 130k. A VERY low number for a Friday evening.

Didn't really go on that night but hmmf - it seems quite active regardless.

 

[JOEBOB69]

Yeah this just don't add up.0 U.S.players allowed,and i know a ton of European players pulled out from the big sites aswell for fear.250k people playing today just doesn't seem belivable to me.Some one prove me wrong here.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Yeah the players on pokerstars are at lke 250,000 or something. That doesn't look somewhat much different to normal to be honest. I'm sure this won't really hurt stars as much as I first thought but still it isn't the same without the Americans playing.


The biggest joke about it all is the way the American government works. It's perfectly fine to have and use a gun, yet to sit in front of your computer screen at home and play a game of cards is illegal. Where's the logic in that?

What a joke.

No kidding huh? They don't tell us when they're campaigning for office that they're going to infringe on our rights, they say the exact opposite, and many Americans don't pay attention to what the candidates say anyway.

 

[RamdeeBen]

Everyone goverment is the same. Lie, Lie, Lie and feed everyone what they want to hear. They win the election and hey - it's no surprise it changes and it's the complete opposite. The thing is, theres nothing you can do either as you are never in a win win situation unless you are running the country, anyone you vote for you know is going to be a pack of lies. I stopped voted years ago as I didn't think it was worthwhile. It really doesn't matter who's in office these days.

 

[JohnBoyWWFC]

Didn't really go on that night but hmmf - it seems quite active regardless.

Yeah it does. Guarantee's are being met and such like. That wasn't the case on Friday, played an $11 MTT with around 5k overlay.

 

[Debi]

Yeah it does. Guarantee's are being met and such like. That wasn't the case on Friday, played an $11 MTT with around 5k overlay.

They adjusted a lot of the guaranteeds - there was a message in the tournament lobby yesterday morning saying that.

***edit - yea just went and checked and that message is still there. My 6pm $50k gtd re-buy is now $35k gtd.

 

[volc90]

It's literally a puppet show any ways now and each party has the strings. No use in listening to one single candidate anymore, they all turn to the dark side sooner or later.

 

[MicheleW]

Wondered why the Poker Pro Twitters weren't all a-twitter. Apparently, they have all been advised not to discuss it. And they will when they are given the OK. Only Dwan has made any real comments. Nothing from the others so far.

Here's one from Daniel N.:
Not ignoring and as much as I'd love to discuss it, I've been advised not to for now. As soon as I can, I'll add my two cents.

 

[onemorechance]

guy looks like such a ****

 

[JohnBoyWWFC]

They adjusted a lot of the guaranteeds - there was a message in the tournament lobby yesterday morning saying that.

***edit - yea just went and checked and that message is still there. My 6pm $50k gtd re-buy is now $35k gtd.

Yeah, I saw that this afternoon on a lot of the big tournies. On most of the micro MTTs like, say the 2.75 12.5k GTD are still the same.

 

[Dorkus Malorkus]

it looks like he's drinking enema juice

 

[the Styb]

Interesting. After logging out of FT sometime after the Federal Seizure, I logged back in and had to install the new update, which of course was full of warnings about not being able to play cash games and freerolls due to my nationality. Expected. But this morning I tried to log in and was greeted by another update, which after sputtering a few times, simply closes the program.

Has FT cut the US off altogether? I'm crrently trying to download the .net version, but it's taking a while, no doubt due to high traffic.

UPDATE: .net download stalls about halfway through, then the time remaining goes from 11 minutes to 15, to 23… adios FT!

I guess this screws us all out of FT's wsop Fantasy Poker too…

 

[DetroitJimmy]

I'm playing at Carbon from scratch right now. Gonna try to deposit first thing tomorrow morning. Playing now because I like to(make money) and also out of protest.

Not very proud of my government and TBH Jimmy Carter was the best President we have had in the last 50 years at least. Not even joking.

 

[Marginal]

its ok guys

 

[the Styb]

I'm playing at Carbon from scratch right now. Gonna try to deposit first thing tomorrow morning. Playing now because I like to(make money) and also out of protest.

Not very proud of my government and TBH Jimmy Carter was the best President we have had in the last 50 years at least. Not even joking.

How is Carbon? Was looking at them last night.