I think everyone would prefer it not to happen. As a previous poster said, it'd be bad for online poker overall. What happens in the US is felt across the world.

For example, a lot of European donks would probably have been attracted by TV coverage of the world series. If these kind of big tournies suffer, then there'll be less media coverage to entice the new fish.

Well, apart from those who would like to see a good selection of sharks leave the pool.

An interesting POV.

I disagree that it would be bad for poker overall as I feel that there is an ample critical mass of players such that any one country stopping playing would not cause a significant problem (ten years ago it might have been a different story).

Not too sure about that.

There is no reason why poker rooms need any particular country to participate to hold a 'World Series'.

It is never a good thing to have a large amount of fish leave the pool either. Even if the games do get marginally better, it is still a bad thing having a large proportion of the worlds playing population blocked out.


Poker, from a European perspective, is still an American game. People associate it with Vegas etc. It becomes harder to position if suddenly America doesn't play any more. Not saying it would die off, but it would force a shift in the global perspective of what poker is.

With the closure of the US market, the whole industry would have to tighten its belt at least for a while to see how this effects them.

Same as above

Well, we've been through that above. Most of the US fish left long ago because it was made difficult to get money onto the sites. There may be an odd few who jump through hoops to keep depositing.

I think that's a well out of date view. When it was associated with the US it was more as a result of westerns (of which genre which vastly more films and TV has been made than anything featuring LV).

Now, most of the major poker sites are European (and none are US) and the playing pool appears as a homogenous international melee.

I think you seriously underestimate the abstraction level at which on-line poker players operate. Poker is a game of cards, not a substitute for a foreign holiday.

Not really. For one thing the 'whole industry' does not allow US players anyway. It might cause some players to leave non-US friendly sites in search of fishier pools but by and large it would just cause a drop in profits for the US friendly sites. However, as these operations are easily scalable that would not really be a problem for anyone other than the site investors who would see a reduced return (possibly only temporarily as worldwide, poker is still on the up).

I agree I think the games would actually get softer in the present climate if Americans were totally banned. But I think this is short sighted. We do not want to go down the path of online poker being banned in a huge country that loves the game so much. I would much rather see online poker fully/clearly legal than a well enforced ban. I just cant imagine a ban being better for the long term health of the game.

Either complete freedom for Americans to deposit or an outright ban is best for the game. Right now its difficult for new American players to get started, but sites are filled with tons of good American regs beating the game.

Anyway I would rather see India or China fully legalize online gambling, the population to draw new players is enormous.

Some interesting comments there, i think the general consensus is that the most of us would end up playing the top European sites but keeping everything crossed it dosent come to that.

Just a quickie to maso777's view on India and China joining in the fun then that would be defenitley a good thing imo $$$$$$$$$££££££$$$$$$!!

Regards.