Yes, Begged!

The thieves in DC have pulled off a great con! All along, they (Republicans) want to tax the (disappearing) middle class to extinction. There is a very large number of us who have fallen to the depths of begging to be taxed… for the “privilege” of playing Poker online!

Forget about the fact the MILLIONS play online around the world without the albatross hanging around their necks. They don’t have our elected thieves! Forget about the fact that what we do with OUR time and OUR money should be OUR choices. Here! PLEASE Tax us! Please take a chunk of our money! The Gov’t hook is in our mouths… it’s set, and we’re being reeled in!

I don’t know about you, but I’m so tired of the same old song coming out of Washington… Do anything to defeat Obama! Do anything to divide the classes! Do anything to protect the wealthy! Do anything to oppress the poor!

I received an email this week from the “Poker Player’s Alliance” that participated in a conference hosted by the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) to discuss the outlook for licensed Internet poker with state lawmakers, lottery officials, and tribal leaders.

In the report, the PPA states:

“Unfortunately, it is abundantly clear that the states’ sole interest in perusing licensing is to raise revenue, and that should be a concern for players. Public policy centered on maximizing government revenues will never produce positive outcomes for consumers. While revenue is a natural byproduct of regulation, it should first be about protecting players and giving adults the freedom to engage in a game of skill over the Internet, rather than about maximizing the rake by limiting competition.”

We don’t have enough pockets for everyone!

The report goes on: the PPA is a strong supporter of Rep. Barton’s H.R. 2366, the Online Poker Act. H.R. 2366 puts consumers first, while giving states the option of participating in licensed Internet poker.

It is important that we continue making our voices heard in our state capitals. We need to continue paving the way so that each governor makes the right decision here. Let’s all tell our governors and state elected representatives that we want the right to play poker in our own homes on our own computers and that we want them to support federal legislation to enable this freedom.

To make this easy for you, they’ve created an editable letter to send to your state officials. You can get it here:

http://www.capwiz.com/pokerplayersalliance/issues/alert/?alertid=50908541&type=ML

Finally, if you want to get involved, or simply read what others are doing, you can subscribe to the PPA Newsletter here:

http://theppa.org/subscribe/

It seems to me that we’ve been handed the best tool available for getting Online Gambling legalized in the US.

Poker is a great pastime, and we’ve proven that by skirting the law, avoiding the funding restrictions, and ignoring the UIGEA.

… and what did we get? Screwed! Screwed out of our money by unscrupulous, greedy operators of such sites as: Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and Absolute Poker. Doesn’t that alone SCREAM for US Regulation? It’s the US Department of Justice that brought those cheating executives down for the good of the whole World… and the good of Poker, Online Gambling, and players everywhere.

I have to say “I told you so”. I’m still against the UIGEA… more so than ever! Can anyone now say that US intervention is wrong? Can anyone now say to the US Gov’t – “Hands Off Internet Gambling”?

Here’s today’s news:
“Last week, the U.S. Justice Department in a civil suit accused several directors of the company behind the Full Tilt Poker website of defrauding thousands of online poker players out of more than $300 million that is still owed to them.

The Justice Department’s civil suit against Full Tilt alleges that in 2010, Full Tilt began having trouble accepting new bets from players, thanks to U.S. efforts to crack down on payment-processing services for online gambling. But the U.S. says that Full Tilt’s owners kept paying themselves millions of dollars anyway, fraudulently depleting the player funds on deposit with the company.”

Re-read that my friends “Full Tilt began having trouble accepting new bets from players, thanks to U.S. efforts to crack down on payment-processing services for online gambling”

“Thanks to U.S. efforts”… so what did the directors do? They went on paying themselves $Millions! Can you say “Madoff”? They all belong in the same prison!

This would not have happened if Bush hadn’t snuck the damn UIGEA into the Ports Protection bill late on a Friday night… (See the whole story elsewhere in this blog). No, instead, we’d have US regulations, US taxes, and US protection – not from ourselves (as the addiction chicken-littles profess) but from thieves operating under the guise of Officers of the Corporations.

So, again I ask you all to get behind the efforts to eliminate the UIGEA for the good of us all (yes – ALL … think what the tax revenues will do FOR us). Contact our hero, our front-man, our point… Rep. Barney Frank D-Mass, and let him know that he’s on the right course, and that you support his efforts to right this wrong!

DOJ says Full Tilt was a global Ponzi scheme
20 September 2011

By Dan Igo

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday that Full Tilt Poker operated as a “global Ponzi scheme” and that its primary owners, including poker professionals Howard Lederer and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, defrauded the site’s players out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The DOJ filed a motion to amend an earlier civil complaint against Full Tilt Poker to include “additional allegations, claims, and defendants concerning a fraudulent scheme by Full Tilt Poker and its Board of Directors concerning the misuse of players’ funds,” according to a memorandum sent out by Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney from the Southern District of New York.

“Full Tilt was not a legitimate poker company, but a global Ponzi scheme,” Bharara said in a statement. “Full Tilt insiders lined their own pockets with funds picked from the pockets of their most loyal customers while blithely lying to both players and the public alike about the safety and security of the money deposited.”

Lederer, Ferguson, former CEO Ray Bitar and Rafael “Rafe” Furst, all owners of Full Tilt Poker, are accused of distributing approximately $443 million to themselves and other owners of the company. The amended complaint alleges that Full Tilt mixed player funds with operating funds, despite public claims to the contrary by the site.

The DOJ said that by the end of March, Full Tilt Poker owed approximately $390 million to players worldwide, including $150 million to American players, but had less than $60 million in its bank accounts.

“Full Tilt Poker allowed players to gamble with — and lose to other players — this phantom money that Full Tilt Poker never actually collected or possessed,” the DOJ said in a memo.

Lederer, Ferguson and Furst were not included in the original April 15 indictment against the founders of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker. Those three sites were accused of bank fraud, money laundering, illegal gambling offenses and violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. All three stopped taking American players shortly after the indictment.

Repaying players has been a totally different matter. PokerStars has paid more than $120 million to American players, and has had no significant delays in paying its international customer base. Full Tilt and Absolute Poker, meanwhile, still owe their players millions of dollars..

The amended complaint claims that Lederer personally received $42 million in company funds, while Ferguson was allocated over $85 million in distributions, but only received about $25 million of this sum.

An unnamed Full Tilt Poker pro received at least $40 million in distributions, while also receiving millions of dollars characterized as loans by Full Tilt. Over $4 million of these loans have not been repaid.

The amendment also states that up until April 2011, Full Tilt Poker continued making payments of up to $10 million per month to its owners, despite the company’s liquidity issues.

Full Tilt Poker’s website stated as of yesterday that players’ funds were “safe and secure.”

The DOJ is seeking $40 million from Bitar, $41.8 million from Lederer, $25 million from Ferguson and $11.7 million from Furst.

(Reprinted from Casino City Times)

I haven’t been able to log in to FTP today, and I heard that Alderney Gambling Control Commission has suspended Full Tilt Poker’s license.

What’s the meaning of that?

Is it Temporary? Forever?

This is all I could find so far: 
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/29/2983486/full-tilts-offshore-gambling-license.html

And this:

“Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has today issued Hearing Notices under Regulation 46 of its Regulations to Vantage Ltd, Oxalic Ltd, Filco Ltd and Orinic Ltd, collectively trading as FULL TILT POKER.

In addition, AGCC has issued Suspension Notices under Regulation 47 to the above named companies requiring them to suspend all operations with immediate effect.

The decision to suspend these licenses follows a special investigation prompted by the indictments unsealed by U.S. Attorney General’s Office in the Southern District of New York on April 15, 2011, during which grounds were found to indicate that these licensees and their business associates were operating contrary to Alderney legislation. The nature of the findings necessitated the taking of immediate action in the public interest.

The venue and date for the hearing will be announced in due course.

Issued by:

André Wilsenach (Executive Director)
Alderney Gambling Control Commission
Alderney,
Channel Islands

Date issued: 29th June 2011”

Read more: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/06/breaking-news-full-tilt-poker-license-suspended-by-agcc-10629.htm

I hope you all hate (hmmmm dislike) Microsoft. If not for their poor (Horrible) products, then for their poor (Horrible) business practices. (Don’t get me started – ’cause it goes all the way back to their early days – read about those pirates yourself).

Now, our beloved Yahoo has decided to get into bed with the Redmond, WA bandits. They’re merging their Search Marketing with (gag) Bing!

We who love Gambling (and that really includes EVERYONE – if you don’t believe me – stop buying Stocks, Bonds, Insurance Policies, and picking your Mate) had to leave Google… and now Yahoo too!

Because of this new alliance which begins August 15, 2010, Yahoo is now pulling all Gambling related Ads. We can’t learn how to play anymore, we can’t research where to play anymore, we can’t enjoy our favorite pastime thanks to Bill and his Boys!

I don’t understand why they believe THEY should be the police, this affects much more than just the USA. Further, here in the USA there are already laws against online Gambling thanks to that poor (Horrible) ex-President Bush who snuck (yes snuck – on a late Friday nite)the uigea INSIDE a Freedom Protection Bill that the lawmakers didn’t even notice was in there.

I’ve written umpteen blog posts on the subject – please go back and get all the details. Let it suffice to say, the law is bogus, the Internet isn’t owned by the USA (thank God), there are stupid stops in place to prevent USA Players from gambling online, the powerful lottery, sports betting and horse racing lobbyists got THEIR gambling interests exempted, the financial institutions have been strapped with the responsibility to police online gambling (who do you think pays for that??? maybe the bank bailouts???), the law will be changed (sooner than later – I hope) because it’s so poorly (Horribly) written now.

The UIGEA isn’t working anyway – USA players get around it everyday. Think of the money the USA is losing. Estimates are the US Gov’t is losing $40 Billion in the next 10 years in Taxes alone. Add to that the fact that the US entrepreneurs had to move their businesses to other countries (and with it, all their jobs). Maybe they’ll move back here when it’s legal and that means more taxes, more jobs, and more money for the US Gov’t. The banks can save the money it’s costing to police CC sales.

What’s Bill and Bing, and Yahoo and Google going to do from atop their high-horses when the anti-gambling bill is revoked? They’re making a moral judgment that they may regret.

And by the way, just WHO was getting “hurt” by a marketer selling a book on how to play Poker, or Roulette, or Craps, or any Casino game? Millions of USA Players want the information and the right to read those books – they were not getting “hurt” – but they are NOW! More lost money; the authors lose, and even Yahoo loses! Why?

There are some SERIOUS addictions out there folks… but either they are legal, or the US Gov’t spends Billions of Tax Dollars on getting USA citizens off their addictions. Still, we see those products marketed everywhere we look. The notion that one will get addicted by reading one of those Gambling books is just Stupid!

I don’t know what can be done about this nonsense until the law is changed. Yahoo is getting tons of complaints now as each marketer sees his stuff removed… add your voice to the mix. Call them and let them know how wrong it is to “protect us” from ourselves. Yahoo: 1 866-924-6676

Let’s call a spade; “a spade”!

I’ve witnessed poor (criminal) politics, and it makes me sick! What’s even sicker is the fact that people “buy it”. Many people take the media reports as gospel, without questioning. I wish we could all read between the lines.

As you know, I’m outwardly against the “Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act”, and I’m looking forward to the day when this crap is overturned (for all the right reasons you’ve read here before).

So, I’m very much in support of Barney Franks and his tireless efforts to stop it! He has again introduced a bill that would DEFINE online gambling and legalize it. Yay!

Today, it was made apparent to me that the NFL is still fighting the Congressman and his bill. The NFL is the bill’s richest and most powerful opponent. The NFL!!!!

Why the NFL you ask? What does this bill have to do with the NFL? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has NO effect on the NFL at all – as a matter of fact it explicitly excludes sports betting from legalization (and professional football is by far the most bet on sports in Las Vegas. About 25 percent of all Las Vegas sports bets are made on NFL teams, and college football accounts for another 20 percent, according to Kenny White, chief operating officer for Las Vegas Sports Consultants).

So, why is the NFL putting so much time, effort and money into defeating Barney Frank’s bill? I want you to read between the lines. Remember, it’s not to legalize betting on football because that’s excluded, it’s not to ensure the integrity of the game because it’s excluded, it’s not because the NFL objects to gambling (it has just signed an agreement with the state of Massachusetts to allow their Patriots to partner up with the state lottery).

So why is the NFL so adamantly opposed? They have even gone as far as setting up a political action committee and hire full time lobbyist Jeff Miller.

What is clear is that the NFL presents the most steadfast impasse to Frank’s bill. He may need to rely on his allies in the PPA and Harrah’s to combat the negative activities of those opposed to legal, regulated, taxed online gambling.

With my thanks to Joseph Ewens at:  http://www.flopturnriver.com/blogs/confused-nfl-pose-biggest-threat-to-online-poker-1473

Technorati Profile

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that  a Renton, WA lawyer’s campaign to make Washington state safe for Internet poker players lost again on Monday.

“A state appeals court rejected Lee Rousso’s arguments that a 2006 law that forbids Internet gambling in the state violates the clause of the U.S. Constitution that gives the federal government the right to regulate interstate commerce.”

“Last May, a King County Superior Court judge also ruled against Rousso on a day that 70 online poker players rallied outside the courthouse.

“The unanimous decision by three judges of division I of the appeals court says that Rousso would have to show that policing Internet poker imposes excessive burdens and not worth the state’s commitment to regulating gaming…”

I applaud Mr. Rousso’s attempts, and hope he continues the fight. He’s in a hard-headed state that seemingly will do anything to protect their own gambling profits from Horseracing and Lotteries.

He would be reminded that Pennsylvania has recognized that Poker IS a game of skill, not luck. I’m not sure that angle would work in Washington State. But he needs all the ammunition available.

My call to Mr. Rousso’s office was unsuccessful although the receptionist was cordial and told me when I could try again to reach him… Stay Tuned.

Ever since the illegal (or at the very least – immoral) passage (?) of the Port bill that contained (hidden within) the UIGEA the bettors in the US have been “breaking the law” at worst, and confused at best! We search for Sports Betting Online – Legally!

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If you’re in a hurry, go here

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We ask “what is legal”? “What is overlooked”? “What is enforced, and by whom”? Let’s face it; No one can tell us what Gambling is! A Judge in Pennsylvania recently ruled that Poker is NOT gambling because it takes skill. He cited the mountains of “How-To Books” on the subject as proof that it takes more than luck to win at Poker. So, ditto other forms of Casino Gambling?????

What about Sports Betting? This is the one and ONLY form of wagering that IS named in US law as Gambling – and therefore illegal! Don’t you wonder who proved that?… and how?

And what’s the future of all of this? Many states (14 announced on Feb 3, 2009 they’re considering increasing Gambling to increase their coffers).

As a result of all this, we US Bettors are literally spinning in circles – not sure what we can and cannot do. Where we can, where we can’t, with whom we can and cannot place wagers (online or off).

This is the muddiest subject before the players and the legislators today. There seems to be no definitive answer to our questions… no enlightened knight in shining armor racing to our rescue… but wait! There is!

Would you believe a totally legal Sports Betting Site? Would you be interested to know that it’s so legal that it’s based (and operates) within the US borders?

Yes, it’s true… Announcing:

CentSports

Yes, CentSports is legal in the US! And you can make bets on all the popular sports, pros and college levels.

How can they make Sports Betting Online – Legal?

They’ve uncovered a loophole in the law.

You see, you are not allowed to make a deposit into a Sports Betting site. But, what if you could bet real money there WITHOUT making a deposit?

hmmmm – sounds impossible?

Nope – it’s actually true!

So, quickly, go to their site now and sign up (it’s free) and make your first legal Sports Bet today – LEGALLY!

CentSports

or

http://tinyurl.com/cyupze

Perfecting your pokerface
Many non-poker players will say: ‘I could never play poker, I don’t have a poker face.’ However, in most low-stakes games this isn’t a very important aspect of the game because most players are usually too busy thinking about their own hand to monitor and observe your reactions in any detail. As long as you don’t completely give you hand away when you hit the nuts, by either shouting ‘Yes!’ or breaking into a ‘happy dance’, you should be okay.
It actually doesn’t take much practice to develop a natural-looking demeanour at the table, regardless of whether you have just made the straight flush you were chasing, or seen all your dreams go up in smoke. This demeanour may be highly animated or completely motionless (or anything in-between), just so long as your poker face doesn’t give away the strength of your hand.

If you play online you don’t need to keep a poker face at all. When you hit a big hand you can jump up and down, call over your wife and kids to admire your brilliant play, whatever you like. Your opponents won’t be any the wiser. In cyberspace, everyone has the perfect poker face!

BUT – your”Poker Face” takes on a different look online. Here, you must pay attention to speed. You must watch yourself as you call, raise, and fold. The speed with which you react to the play can expose your hand’s strength. I recommend that you NEVER use the auto functions for your moves as they too will tell much about your hand (or you).

Vary your speed of play, and keep ‘em guessing!

If you need some encouragement to get out and vote on Tuesday, take the urgings of John Kerry and Al Gore… both are reminding us of what can happen by very narrow margins.

Don’t ever forget the lessons of 2000 and 2004 – VOTE! Your vote DOES COUNT!!!!

Do you know how your own legislators feel about gambling, and more specifically online gambling?

Go to this website and find out:

http://www.congressionalpoker.org/index.php?option=com_sectionex&view=category&id=2&Itemid=12

You’ll see the rating given your Representatives by the Poker Players Alliance. It was a big surprise to me… it might be to you as well. Check it out!