Tomorrow night I have been asked to represent the Australian online poker community by partaking in an online gambling debate on 'Insight' a reasonably well known program on the SBS TV network.

I am allowed to be as active or passive in the debate as I like, however, it's not like me to sit back and just listen.

I noticed on the episode's webpage that Nick Xenophon will be there. I knew I recognised this name from some 2p2 threads.

What I'm looking for is ammunition. Short, succinct fact/stats that may help me in any debate that I can get into. I don't have a lot of time to research myself before the episode which will be shot in 24 hours so please help out asap!

There have been quite a few threads over the past few months in the legislation forum which are Australia specific, you should check those out.

There should be some good bits and pieces there to start you off.

There are links to a government funded productivity commision report (you can google and find), which supported legalisation of ipoker. It took into account studies of problem gambling in the UK and other places.

There is also the argument that playing B&M means you have to play higher stakes away from the family home, etc.

EDIT: In particular there are some good things from FSL009 here and BruceN here. You may want to try PMing them..

The productivity commision report can be found here, if you search the document for poker you can find relevant sections.

There is also some discussion of the report here.

it concerns me that you've been asked to participate. To date all the issues have been to do with poker machines, not poker. Anything that brings online poker into the debate is unnecessarily bringing online poker to the public's attention. I'd prefer if you just sat tight but if you
're going to say anything i'd be arguing that it's a skill game and nothing to do with pokies.

criminals

I remember watching this show. Mind posting a link after it has aired?

This is very interesting and I wish you all the best with it. Could you describe how you were chosen/contacted? I take it you're a reasonably successful MSNL Australian grinder, yeah?

I'm not sure if it will be limited to Australian viewers (and I don't know if others are particularly interested anyway :\ ) but you can watch episodes of insight here: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/naca/insight/

You only need one arguement - Poker is a game of skill, if your going to ban it then you need to ban people playing Chess, and Backgammon as well.

repreSENT!

Got nothing to add, good luck though and post link to the show when it comes out haha

Why would you agree to be on this show? No offense but if you're an Australian poker player and don't even know who Xenophon is then that's cause for concern.
Just don't mention poker at all plz

You are a ****ing retard for doing a show like this. Why must people want to get in the media and do this ****.

2 out comes....

1. You end up looking like some sick degen and have a possible chance of it being banned like the USA

2. It becomes a skill and they decide to start taxing us...

You sit in your house and play

I mean this in the nicest possible way, just STFU.

DING DING DING!!!

Thanks, buddy. I realized it after clicking the link OP posted. I think it used to be like only viewable if you have a BigPond account. GL, OP!

OP, could you answer this?