Quote:
Originally Posted by bespel
But it doesn't. The online poker industry as it operates in the United States is far more vulnerable. When you download something for free, no money changes hands. Poker sites rely on bank transfers through processing companies to operate. Players have to feel secure that if they put up $100 they have a chance of getting back, or of growing that initial deposit. And of course they have to be able to make a deposit in the first place. That requires cooperation from your bank, from you, from a processing company and from the site itself.
Never said downloading stopped or that the traditional revenue models for music didn't take an enormous hit. But where a young person in college may be willing to assume to the small risk of a civil suit for downloading a Beatles track (I share your disdain for Itunes on that point), a lot of people would think twice. Without the crackdown on Napster, Itunes would never have survived the first few years.
I'm not saying that the two situations are identical, only that the music downloading example provides a model for how an anti-poker campaign might work.
I get the jist of your argument, i just respectfully disagree.
Also you're the one that correlated napster with online poker.
Again, IMO, you should feel perfectly safe with every penny you have online. Even in the most extreme scenario (i,e. nt, epass, etc) people recieved their payments in full.
Look back to just 2 weeks ago. We had a stretch (leading up to UIGEA in dec) of like 8 months where people were getting paper checks in like 2-4 days. People were getting their e checks overnight at times. I requested a cashout once on monday morning and had it tuesday morning. 3 days was the longest i waited to recieve my funds.
When these situations occur it's simply a waiting game. Contrary to what many believe stars is waiting for information, just like the posters/players. The money isnt in their hands, the money has been sent to a processor, who'se now in control of the situation until they relay information on monday.
I'm not really trying to argue, just pointing out that you shouldn't have any anxiety about playing online. As a player there is no law on the books that you're breaking, therefore a civil suit (as in your example) would not be possible.