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there are two options:
1. outlaw online poker
2. regulate online poker, make it secure
obv 1 is far easier, so more likely.
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Originally Posted by Victor
[ ] obv easier
ya, if it was so freakin easy, dont u think it would be illegal already? online gambling has been decently large here since like 99.
Neither is "so freakin easy", but the path of least resistance here would be to expand existing legislation and outlaw it completely rather than actually create new regulations, etc. Hence the word "easier".
I believe that the short term effect of something like this could potentially be pretty bad. A whole new audience would be exposed to online poker in a very negative context. Many of whom have the time, the age-onset-indignation, and sense of entitlement it takes to call and write letters to Congress to complain about something that doesn't affect them in any way.
It really all depends on the angle they use (if they do the story at all), but something tells me that 5 minutes talking about the safeguards that reputable sites put in place would be trumped by the 5 second teaser talking about "the multi-billion dollar industry ... are your mobnies safe?".
I also believe that 60 Minutes, as part of their fauxbjectivity, would address the gray area around online poker's legality. The fundamendalist Tennessee housewife who got Bill Frist all spun up probably thinks it already is illegal. Once she realizes it's not, the crusade can begin again.
Yes, I just wanted to use the word 'fauxbjectivity'. The sky's not falling, but I think we'd all be better off without this story on prime time network tv.