The Legal state of the Poker Union
It has been over a year since the port bill passed throwing the world of on line poker into a chaotic state of being for players in the US and to some degree players all over the world. The poker boom was busted for sure with a deadening of growth and a substantial recession of the number of people playing on line.However players from all over the world are now fueling the growth of on line poker. There is cause for optimism. The US legislation did not cause a domino effect of banning on line poker in other countries, indeed the effect was just the opposite. There are movements a foot in the US to bring back the game on line. And perhaps most telling of all, there has been nil enforcement of the gaming related clauses of the port bill.
However, unlike the previous attempts to baffle the on line poker boom, the port bill did and continues to have a negative impact on poker players in the US. We just can't go back to the carefree days of lore to playing on line poker at whim.
Here are some resources to help keep you informed about the plight of on line poker in the US:
H.R. 2046: Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and for other purposes.
http://pokerpatriots.com/A lot of good stuff on the politics of poker and general poker blogs.
Poker Players AllianceA lobbying organization for the legalization of on line poker for US players.
LA Times
Poker players lobby for on line gamingTech News:
Poker Players Call Misdeal on Net Gambling BanThe State.com :
Poker players seek new deal on Internet gambling
Interesting reads about Annie Dukes and others from the PPA recent (October 07) visit to capitol hill.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 Analyzed, by I Nelson Rose
Highly interesting article by I Nelson Rose, Top Gaming attorney IMHO in the US.