I am wondering what the experts think will be more profitable if federal legislation gets passed: playing from the US on the new sites, or playing abroad on Pokerstars/Party/FT etc. (perhaps on the US sites at the same time if this is allowed)

This obviously has a lot to do with family/friends, personal preference, values, happiness living abroad, etc.

So let's assume we're talking about a hypothetical successful mid-high pro who is equally happy living at home or abroad. He is primarily focused on which option will be most profitable once federal legislation kicks in.

Given the above, which choice do you believe will be more profitable for him and why?

How bout trying to get poker in the US first before you start assuming questions that can't be answered?

The way that we are headed, there won't be online poker in the US for years maybe decades...

I think it is an important question for right now. If playing abroad will remain more profitable than playing in the US after legislation, then it makes sense for online pros to focus on setting up a permanent home abroad... right now!

I worry that too many pros are waiting around in limbo for legislation that may not even be beneficial to them if it passes. This thread is intended to help these players plan their future.

The answer: Wherever Pokerstars is allowed to operate. All of the US legal sites and whatever becomes legal in Vegas will have a small playerbase and be infested with regs. It won't be profitable in the US for a long time given how lousy our government is in implementing legislation. It's far better to live abroad where you will get a fair game and live more comfortably.

Answer. Tax. Profitable to be abroad.

If I see another one of these threads, I am going to throw rocks at someone........

Do I have any reason to believe that we will ever seen Ipoker pre BF again?

Could you start posting less? I'm going to have to block you... Americans living abroad have to still pay taxes to the US government...Nothing changes...It's almost like you are just trying to boost your post count.

It may not be as simple as you claim.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, maybe worth a look ? (Things indeed may change if an individual lives outside the US ?)

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Inter...come-Exclusion

You are worried because...? Because of what?

Unfortunately, you're still on the hook for self-employment tax, which is a big chunk of your tax bill on the first 90k or whatever the exclusion cap is these days.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/ch03.html

Still nice if you were planning on staying 330+ days or very close anyhow, but probably not worth it for people to stay outside the US specifically to get their FEIC playing poker.

what a terrible post
before you critisize someone who is correct try not being so ignorant
if you live abroad 330 days or more out of the year you DON'T have to pay income tax on your first 100k of earned income

you still have to pay the self employment tax, but you would have had to pay that anyway

living outside of the us in a country that doesnt tax gambling absolutely will save you tens of thousands of dollars in taxes (if you're good enough) and its perfectly legal

Worst post I have seen on here this year.

Another thread like this? You guys are crazy to think that the US games won't be unbelievably juicy assuming there are no crazy taxes or something.

lol

Not only do you get the foreign exclusion, but paying into any other foreign social system (that has a tax treaty w the USA) exempts you from that ridiculous 13% or whatever SS tax amurrican poker players are stuck with.

You can make $95k/year and owe next to nothing to the godawful USA.

If poker in the US is legalized, then poker in the ROW will also become more profitable as a good chunk of US regs will go back in the states, thus making games abroad softer.

Since the FATCA legislation, it would be cheaper to reside in a country that doesn’t tax gambling and then you claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) on your first $100k (adjusted annually for inflation). You only qualify for FEIE if you meet the physical presence test, where you prove to have spent at least 330 full days in a foreign land for consecutive period of 12 months. The 330 days exclude the time spent in transit (flying or sailing through other foreign lands to your destination). You can also qualify for FEIE through the bona fide residence test if you reside in the foreign country for an entire calendar year, though this may not be the best option for a digital nomad.

Since the FATCA legislation, it would be cheaper to reside in a country that doesn’t tax gambling and then you claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) on your first $100k (adjusted annually for inflation). You only qualify for FEIE if you meet the physical presence test, where you prove to have spent at least 330 full days in a foreign land for a consecutive period of 12 months. The 330 days exclude the time spent in transit (flying or sailing through other foreign lands to your destination). You can also qualify for FEIE through the bona fide residence test if you reside in the foreign country for an entire calendar year, though this may not be the best option for a digital nomad.