With all the new legislation being enacted, introduced, or at least discussed by lots of states — Florida, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Idaho, etc. – it begs the question of what effect all of this legal fuss might actually have on residents. Here are some questions for thought. So post some comments and if we get enough feedback I’ll either post some polls or write specific follow-up articles.
(1) Would you consider moving to a bordering state if that state legalized online poker and yours kept it illegal?
(2) Would you consider moving to a bordering state if that state legalized live poker and yours kept it illegal?
(3) Have you written to either your U.S. Congressperson or Senator regarding poker?
(4) Have you written to your state representative regarding poker?
(5) Do you think it is a good or bad idea for the states to have their own intrastate online poker sites?
(1) No way. The problem with legalized online poker is that the tax on profit (or deposits, depending on the law) will be so high as to make it difficult to make decent enough money to justify playing online.
(2) I have considered this and I would at the very least consider moving to a state with legalized live poker.
(3) No. It seems like a pointless task, even if the PPA doesn’t think so.
(4) Ditto.
(5) I think intrastate poker sites are probably good, insofar as it merely expands legalized poker, which would hopefully eventually lead to live legalized poker. I have heard concerns about segmenting the player base, but if your state is well populated, I cannot see how this will have disastrous results.
I’d probably move too. Especially since there are so many good weather states out there with poker. Just a shame that NY’s not one of them..
Have to disagree on the intrastate though. At least in the short run. Until the pie grows it will just divide the players. May not hurt large states like Florida, California, or NY as much. But how about states like Rhode Island or Wyoming? Those players will get the short end of the stick.