# Online poker fucked by puritain DOJ retards **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 16, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612 "2011-04-16T15:45:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/1 "2011-04-16T15:45:33Z")
aka another day in the Land of the Free But 48 hours ago, any American could point their browser at [www.pokerstars.com](http://www.pokerstars.com) (amongst other websites) and within minutes be playing poker at stakes from pennies to porsches [Not anymore](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8455641/Poker-company-bosses-charged-with-violating-US-anti-internet-gambling-laws.html). Visit that website and one learns that the domain has been seized by the FBI. Players from civilised countries that value personal freedom can still play (in the case of pokerstars, by visting www.pokerstars.eu) In a [self congratulatory press release](http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April11/scheinbergetalindictmentpr.pdf) by some scumbag pseudo-politicians at the DOJ, we learn that: [QUOTE=FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK] These defendants, knowing full well that their business with U.S. customers and U.S. banks was illegal, tried to stack the deck. They lied to banks about the true nature of their business. Then, some of the defendants found banks willing to flout the law for a fee. The defendants bet the house that they could continue their scheme, and they lost." [/quote] Well, maybe. But that makes not a jot of difference to the real issue here - a toxic combination of protectionism and puritanism once again stifles life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Never trust a woman named Janice. I learned that when I was a lot younger. Oh, and fuck the US for thinking it’s police of the world, **again**. Most of the people charged have not set foot in the US since the poker boom. These sites were offshore and frankly none of your business. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/2 "2011-04-16T15:50:13Z")
If they’re doing illegal business with U.S. banks, how is it NOT our business? ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/3 "2011-04-16T15:55:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If they’re doing illegal business with U.S. banks, how is it NOT our business? Ignore that part, it is a total abstraction from the real issue. They want you to be discussing that. Anyone can see that this is really about internet poker. Let’s discuss that. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/4 "2011-04-16T15:57:20Z")
Cheer up. There’s always Three-card Monte. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/5 "2011-04-16T15:59:28Z")
> [@smellsofgummybears](#): > > Anyone can see that this is really about internet poker. Let’s discuss that. In that case, there’s [already a thread on it in the Game Room](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=604837). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/6 "2011-04-16T16:00:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If they’re doing illegal business with U.S. banks, how is it NOT our business? Yeah, but _why_ does it have to be illegal? Because taxes don’t get paid on the money? I don’t think the USA is overly oppressive like the OP seems to imply but if I want to gamble my money (or not, they do have free poker too) on the internet why can’t I? Why is it any business of the government? ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/7 "2011-04-16T16:02:45Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > In that case, there’s [already a thread on it in the Game Room](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=604837). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/8 "2011-04-16T16:05:26Z")
It’s illegal because a bunch of assholes in Congress made it illegal. I have no interest in playing internet poker, but I’m with the OP on this one. First they came for the on line poker players, and I didn’t speak up because I’m not an on line poker player… ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/9 "2011-04-16T16:12:59Z")
Good. The vast majority of the players on these sites are degenerate losers. It’s WoW with a little cachet. What I want to know is what took the government so long? That credit card payment law has been on the books for years. ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/10 "2011-04-16T16:24:14Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Good. The vast majority of the players on these sites are degenerate losers. It’s WoW with a little cachet. > > What I want to know is what took the government so long? That credit card payment law has been on the books for years. So are the vast majority of people on the internet. And are you picking on degenerate losers because the cool kids would beat you up, or what? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/11 "2011-04-16T16:57:27Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Good. The vast majority of the players on these sites are degenerate losers. It’s WoW with a little cachet. > > What I want to know is what took the government so long? That credit card payment law has been on the books for years. So things should be banned because (people who are in your opinion) degenerate losers enjoy them? Do you want WoW banned? It doesn’t even have the cachet, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/12 "2011-04-16T16:59:09Z")
It’s not the fault of the DOJ, it’s the fault of congress and, most likely, lobbyists representing the casinos. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/13 "2011-04-16T17:00:45Z")
Seems silly to blame the DOJ. Its not their fault online poker is illegal in the States. Blame Congress and campaign to get the laws changed. I don’t have any problem with online poker being legalized, but given that it is illegal, I don’t think the DOJ should turn the other way while banks take proceedes from illegal activity. Especially the “flout the law for a fee”, banks shouldn’t be allowed to help launder money, even if the activity that generated the money was largely harmless. ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/14 "2011-04-16T17:05:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Seems silly to blame the DOJ. Its not their fault online poker is illegal in the States. Blame Congress and campaign to get the laws changed. But why do they have to **enjoy** it so much? Read that quote again. Like I said: third rate politicians. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/15 "2011-04-16T17:12:50Z")
My question is this: what about states like California, where poker is completely legal? If I want to connect to a website to participate in an activity that is legal both where I am and where the website is, how is that a problem? Why is the government even getting involved? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/16 "2011-04-16T17:15:45Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > It’s not the fault of the DOJ, it’s the fault of congress and, most likely, lobbyists representing the casinos. Okay the law is the law is a good point. However this appears to be a jackass law, would non-jackasses brag about doing a jackass thing as part of their job? I say no they would not. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/17 "2011-04-16T17:27:58Z")
Even the jackassiest laws have their die-hard fans, as we’ve seen time and time again on this board. ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/18 "2011-04-16T17:30:52Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > My question is this: what about states like California, where poker is completely legal? If I want to connect to a website to participate in an activity that is legal both where I am and where the website is, how is that a problem? Why is the government even getting involved? Actually it isn’t “completely legal” where the house gets involved. There’s a monopoly. Not sure if I’m allowed to link to other forums but even before this California residents were on shaky ground, technically. You will be able to find more info with google. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/19 "2011-04-16T17:33:17Z")
> [@smellsofgummybears](#): > > But why do they have to **enjoy** it so much? Read that quote again. > > Like I said: third rate politicians. Eh, people who do a job enjoy it when they’re successful. In general we want the DoJ to do their upmost to enforce the law, not spend a lot of time musing on the relative worth of those laws. Thats the legislatures job. **Giraffe** , internet gambling is illegal in the US, which includes CA. The legality of poker isn’t really relevant. ---
**Author:** ![smellsofgummybears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@smellsofgummybears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smellsofgummybears)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612/20 "2011-04-16T17:35:22Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Eh, people who do a job enjoy it when they’re successful. In general we want the DoJ to do their upmost to enforce the law, not spend a lot of time musing on the relative worth of those laws. Thats the legislatures job. > **Giraffe** , internet gambling is illegal in the US, which includes CA. The legality of poker isn’t really relevant. Disagree. One should not enjoy the parts of your job where you are unpleasant bitch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-poker-fucked-by-puritain-doj-retards/578612.md?page=2)