So I emailed both of the guys running against Bob Goodlatte in VA about online poker and legislation like HR 2267.

We've been talking back and forth and he actually seems interested. He's asking questions now that basically are leading to "how can I use this against Goodlatte". I'm not sure how to answer.

I've told him the benefits of regulation (as best I could) and that Goodlatte's bill did nothing to regulate poker, it was basically a bank bill, and his latest response was looking for things like how has it affected people since UIGEA in a negative way, like people that still suffered from gambling addiction (since UIGEA did little to protect them) or victims of "shady operation". Obviously shady operation would include the UB and AP scandals but not sure if that helps the cause or what.

I guess what I'm looking for, maybe it would be best if someone in the know was willing to take a look at the conversation either via PM or email and advise on the best way to respond. Obviously I'd like to help anyone beat Goodlatte, although this guy honestly probably doesn't stand much chance. The other opponent probably stands more of a chance but he hasn't responded to my initial email yet.

I'd rather not just post the emails publicly since I don't have his permission or anything and I'd rather not even post his name just yet.

Thanks!

I would suggest sending him a simple summary of the current situation, a 50,000 foot view of the principles of liberty that we cite when opposing the UIGEA, and a small description of why we feel that Goodlatte, while well-intentioned, is an out-of-touch prohibitionist.

I recently did the same thing in my state. I contacted all the candidates running in the Republican primary for our open Senate seat. All of them that responded said "I never heard of UIGEA. Gambul is bad!" except for one. He said "I have never heard of UIGEA. Tell me more." He and I had a good e-mail discussion. I know where you're coming from, and the questions can be really tough. If he hadn't come in dead last in the race, I think we could have had an ally or at least not an enemy.

My advice, and what I did, is to tell the candidate to go to the PPA website and contact them. I figured that the professionals could help him better than I could, and that it would help show that there is actual, national support for regulated iPoker.

I believe your speaking about Stuart Bain, the Libertarian candidate running against Congressman Goodlatte. We’ve had several conversations with him about the status of current federal legislation and what it all means. Bain definitely has his heart in the right place as it relates to poker.

That's great to hear. He actually is the one that didn't respond to my email yet. I think he has a better chance of winning, although its still tough, especially for a libertarian (no democratic candidate). Jeff Vanke is who I was talking to. If you haven't spoken with him hopefully you will. I'm going to refer him to the PPA as suggested above.

Thanks everyone! It's probably a pipe dream but would just be so sweet to take out Goodlatte.

Until online poker sites can prove that they're actively maintaining a safe site, there's not a politician alive that would run on an "allow online poker" platform. Could you imagine the backlash when all of the recent collusion and botting issues were made mainstream knowledge. That is a campaign killer.

Makes the argument for regulation more compelling as long as they believe online poker is going nowhere under UIGEA. Thus I disagree.

The issue is regulation of something that is currently illegal. You're putting the cart before the horse. All Goodlatte has to do is point to the rampant cheating that is going on right now and say, "This is what I'm trying to avoid, see I'm the good guy."

You have to step back and look at the broader picture and not from an insider perspective. The majority of voters in the district are not going to rally behind this. They'll see that Goodlatte is looking out for their welfare and the other guy is trying to pass shady business.

Its "not" illegal and thats why I've said in the past how important it is for the PPA to make it known that its not illegal. Once people and particularly politicians become aware of the "facts" (among other things, that UIGEA is a banking bill, not an anti-poker bill), they start to understand better the realities of the situation and come around to our side. I watched this firsthand in the recent 2267 committee hearings. When people get it, they are on our side (unless they are just anti-gambling, like Bauchus).

I see your point, I admit I didn't before. But that still doesn't mean that FTP and PS so ineptly handling their security is a good thing to point to for a regulation argument. I would think that it would be more of a positive to those against online gambling, especially if exposed to the masses. Then it becomes an argument that a multi billion dollar industry with all of their "state of the art" detection equipment cannot keep their games clean, so is it possible?

Yes, clearly there are ways both sides can use such information to their benefit (and I expect that both sides will!)

How about you point out what "inept security" examples at PS and FTP you base your post on ?

I must have missed those incidents, please elaborate.

You have an amazing aptitude to top yourself. Just when I think you could not be any less informed about which you, apparently, deem yourself an expert.

Well done. You certainly put me on tilt every time I see your name.

Use the search function....again.

I don't exactly like the tone of your post, you make it seem like I'm making things up. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and hope that you're as computer illiterate as you sound. The links below show clear cases of the ineptness of online poker to keep their sites clean and secure.

Chinese collusion ring in operation for months before someone has to point PokerStars to their PTR to show clear collusion:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...-stars-791760/

Cake security loophole allowing super users:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...n-cake-838419/

Another collusion case on PS:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28...lusion-843715/

And before you think Full Tilt is clean, a simple google search will reveal a botting chain that has been in operation for years on their site. I wll not link to it because I think it's against forum rules. I would classify that as "inept security."

Edit: The 3 cases linked to above all occurred within the last 2 months.

TPCEO all you have to do is occasionally check the Internet Poker forum. Sprinkled in amongst the OMG POKER RIGGED and FTP FROZE ACCOUNT posts are fairly frequent legitimate examples of cheating, collusion, and poor security on the part of both major sites.