http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_news/news_...class=PokerNews

so someone explain everything to me. Is it time for me to withdrawel all my money from my party account, or is it already too late?

I think that it only prevents you from putting money in, I can't see them freezing the accounts and stealing all of that money from some 3 million players. Party has a pretty good reputation for being a reputable business.

are you kidding? is this some kind of sick joke?

This better be a joke. What's going to happen now?

To some extent, we have to wait and see. It is not a joke. It may drastically affect us. Some poker sites (Party and Stars) are planning on banning US players, or, at least, say we can't play for cash. Some sites have begun to fight back at the WTO.

There's a petition in the works aimes at US pols here: http://www.petitiononline.com/LOGNOW/

This is a measure that certain more uptight Republicans have been trying to get through for years. There are several rationales for it. First, gambling is ilegal, except where specifically sanctioned in specific ways by each state. Second, gambling is a bad thing, leading people to financial ruin and youngsters into addiction. (Of course, the same could be said for the legally sanctioned varieties.) Third, internet gambling sites are of course run by crooks, and used for money laundering by criminal and terrorists. (Neither of these seem to have been proven in any manner-- and, for the most part, I think the major sites are pretty respectable businesses.) For some unknown reason, they lump poker (which we all consider a game of skill more than chance) in with casino games.

The bill was attached at the last minute to a port security bill, which was deemed crucial to get into place before break. Some Dems protested adding the unrelated Internet Gambling Bill. They also protest not adding security measures for mass transit and other related points. But there was no time to work it out, and nobody wanted to be thought of as holding up a measure to increase port security. It was a voice vote, and pretty close to unanimous. The real focus was on security, and it was a shady, slick maneuver to attach this pet legislation that many wanted to consider more fully.

The focus of the bill is to prevent use of credit cards and bank transfers to internet gaming sites. To make banks and other financial institutions criminally liable. It may also affect NETteller and Firepay, and other intermediaries. The only good news is that they are not planning on going after players, only businesses related to internet gambling. Daniel--this could be a problem for you.

Well, this is getting a bit long. Sorry. I'm upset.

One immediate question is how will this site react?

The new bill does not change the legal status of online poker in the US. It makes it illegal for financial instituitions to transfer money used to make "illegal bets". But what this means is not clear, online poker has never been found to be illegal in a court of law in the US and the new law does not change that.

The sad thing is that some poker rooms such as PartyPoker are suspending American players. But the majority of the online poker rooms still allow Americans to play. Sites like www.pokerlistings.com and www.toptexasholdem.com provides lists over which sites that still allow us to play. So event if things could look better we can still play online. And the struggle for online poker will continue.

Hi, guys, I have some question I want to ask you! It is very interesting for me, can somebody please tell me something more about the US Gambling Legislation!? Does it forbids all kind of online gambling, or only the online poker is banned? And does that "Prohibition" apply to the United States as a whole, or every single state has its own right to decide whether to prohibit, or to allow the online gambling!? Thanks in advance!

Bryan Nelson

Poker stars is not banning US player idiot. Read there site and maybe you would know that

"PokerStars has received extensive expert advice from within and outside the U.S. which concluded that these provisions do not alter the U.S. legal situation with respect to our offering of online poker games. Furthermore it is important to emphasize that the Act does not in any way prohibit you from playing online poker.

Therefore, our business continues as before - open to players worldwide including the US. You may play on our site as you did prior to the Act. "




Straight from the site