More legal issues -- looks like I'm about to be a felon

[Aequitas58]

Wow... comments above. I took this as seriously as you did. Let's take a deep breath and realize that I'm not saying that poker is a game of complete luck, but seriously - it is a game of chance. There is skill associated with those chances, and one can excel, but be honest with yourself.

[2Tone]

For me and the rest of us here in Washington, it doesn’t really matter whether poker is a game of skill or chance. Because poker is specifically called out in the legislation as being among the activities prohibited online. Game of skill or game of chance – I’m a felon either way.

Anybody remember the Jesse Jackson SNL game show skit? “Who gets the car?” “I get the car!”

Or, as is the case here, I get the shaft.

[Talking Poker]

So.... I'm curious. Will you be:

1. Cheating on your income taxes?
2. Reporting your income as general gambling income and not mentioning that it was from online play?
3. Reporting income from an illegal activity?

And yes, I realize that the law was written to make online poker illegal. My point is that the law is faulty and should be rewritten, excluding poker, since it is not merely a game of chance.

"Oh, but it's the law!" shouts Aeq. "You can't challenge LAWS!" he states.

Fortunately for me, he's wrong - that's not how it works in this country. Laws are added (see above), modified, and overturned all the time. And this law right here is just waiting to be attacked. Wait and see.

[2Tone]

Boy, there’s an appealing set of choices, huh?

I’ll plan on going with door #2, but sure am not happy about it.

[Talking Poker]

I am being honest with myself and everyone else. Meanwhile you are making your little (failed) attempts at humor instead of using sound logic to support your case. So you tell me who' not taking things seriously.

And hopefully by now you realize that I'm not saying the poker is a game of complete skill, but there is certainly skill involved that directly affects the long term outcome of the game, therefor making it NOT merely a game of chance.

[Aequitas58]

1. You're the one not taking things seriously. You brought up NASCAR. You don't know the general rule of intellectual debate? The first to bring up NASCAR loses by default.

2. There is no need to continue "debating." I made a point, you disagreed, Sklansky (and Shabi!) agree, and you still fail to see my point. There's nothing left to talk about.

3. The quote about rules never changing: That's dirty debating. Rules and laws change everyday, so don't start with all that. I'm simply pointing out that your argument doesn't work. Geez.

[fluxer]

It's amazing how many people are inconsolably ignorant concerning the amount of skill involved in poker, when anyone who has a clue about the game realizes otherwise.

[Talking Poker]

pshabi and Lou both have "a clue" about the game... yet they were both very clear that they believe chance to be the predominating factor in the outcome, and not skill.

BTW, I read an excellent article about all of this on the plane on the way out there. It even included a section that supported my "game of skill" logic. I'll link it up wen I get home and have time to find it online, unless anyone feels like digging for it now. I believe it was written by Allyn Jaffrey Shulman.

[Boobie Lover]

I like this quote from Greg Raymer,

[Talking Poker]

Bingo. This is one of the arguments for "Game of Skill." A bigger one is that the IRS allows you to declare yourself a professional poker player and write off your losses as a business expense! Note that you can not write off losing lottery tickets, since that very different form of gambling is seen as a game of chance.

In oher words, the IRS sees poker as a game of skill.

One of the big problems here though, is that's at the Federal Level... and I believe if a state decided to make poker illegal (or gay marriage or whatever), they have that right.

Proposition whatever the heck it is may never get through, but 2Tone may still be screwed in Washington State.

[Tony Cheval]

Chance is the predominating factor in the outcome of an individual hand.

Skill is the predominating factor in the FINANCIAL outcome of an individual session (betting more when you're ahead, less when you're behind, etc).

[Talking Poker]

Yes, I think we all agree with that. Fortunately, none of us sit down and play one hand sessions. That's not how people play poker.

[Tony Cheval]

Are you being pedantic with me?

[eejit101]

no, pedantic is the wrong word, shitty i prefer

[Talking Poker]

No. Not being shitty either.