Poker: Worth the Gamble?
Mark Weber
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Is poker the new sport sweeping the country and college campuses?
Tune into ESPN anytime and you1ll see professionals, as well as amateurs, competing on a green field, but in this sport there are no pads.
Since ESPN started airing the World Series of Poker, or WSOP, the numbers of players entering the online tournaments have grown exponentially.
The entrance fee for the tournament is usually $10,000; most amateur or part-time players don't have that kind of cash to throw away. This is part of the reason online gambling has become so popular.
While walking though the halls of SHU you will come across posters and advertisements for the online gambling site PartyPoker.com. The site offers education for beginners and security for players investing real money.
Players who feel their game is up to par can venture over to virtual tables to play for real money.
Problem is, to deposit money, a credit card must be used and most companies only allow minimum deposits of $50.
Every poker website holds tournaments and the winner gets their fee into the tournament paid for by the site. In return, the website gets advertisement by having the player wear their logo on a shirt or hat.
There also has not been a professional to win the WSOP since 2001.
The issue of legality has been in the news recently. On Oct. 13, President Bush, while discussing a last minute terrorism security bill, decided to pass a bill determining the legality of online gambling.
The bill was passed and put into action. It stated that the same programs that help to prevent organized crime and transferring money by terrorists will also help prevent online gambling.
Now if a European company wants to conduct business legally in the U.S. they will have to implement the new technology, which will prevent transactions from American locations that prohibit gambling.
EU or European Union law states that any nation that actually has there own lottery cannot prohibit gambling from another. Several European gambling companies have filed suit and believe that these measures are unlawful and discriminating.
If these measures are taken, this law will prevent almost all popular gaming sites to be shut out from conducting business in the states.
To all the online gamblers, make sure you are aware of the new procedures. The government is mandated to explain restrictions and reasons for them, within the next 2 months.
The EU's main focus is towards France who blocks online gambling while their own online gambling market pulls in 17bn or over $20 billion U.S. dollars.
Through a survey conducted on students around campus, many of them explained that they don't play for money just for fun. Like most students, money is tight.
"I don't have money to lose," said Kristen Tweed, senior, Smithtown, N.Y, who plays occasionally on yahoogames.com.
Tune into ESPN anytime and you1ll see professionals, as well as amateurs, competing on a green field, but in this sport there are no pads.
Since ESPN started airing the World Series of Poker, or WSOP, the numbers of players entering the online tournaments have grown exponentially.
The entrance fee for the tournament is usually $10,000; most amateur or part-time players don't have that kind of cash to throw away. This is part of the reason online gambling has become so popular.
While walking though the halls of SHU you will come across posters and advertisements for the online gambling site PartyPoker.com. The site offers education for beginners and security for players investing real money.
Players who feel their game is up to par can venture over to virtual tables to play for real money.
Problem is, to deposit money, a credit card must be used and most companies only allow minimum deposits of $50.
Every poker website holds tournaments and the winner gets their fee into the tournament paid for by the site. In return, the website gets advertisement by having the player wear their logo on a shirt or hat.
There also has not been a professional to win the WSOP since 2001.
The issue of legality has been in the news recently. On Oct. 13, President Bush, while discussing a last minute terrorism security bill, decided to pass a bill determining the legality of online gambling.
The bill was passed and put into action. It stated that the same programs that help to prevent organized crime and transferring money by terrorists will also help prevent online gambling.
Now if a European company wants to conduct business legally in the U.S. they will have to implement the new technology, which will prevent transactions from American locations that prohibit gambling.
EU or European Union law states that any nation that actually has there own lottery cannot prohibit gambling from another. Several European gambling companies have filed suit and believe that these measures are unlawful and discriminating.
If these measures are taken, this law will prevent almost all popular gaming sites to be shut out from conducting business in the states.
To all the online gamblers, make sure you are aware of the new procedures. The government is mandated to explain restrictions and reasons for them, within the next 2 months.
The EU's main focus is towards France who blocks online gambling while their own online gambling market pulls in 17bn or over $20 billion U.S. dollars.
Through a survey conducted on students around campus, many of them explained that they don't play for money just for fun. Like most students, money is tight.
"I don't have money to lose," said Kristen Tweed, senior, Smithtown, N.Y, who plays occasionally on yahoogames.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Virginia
Virginia
posted 10/20/06 @ 5:24 PM EST
I have found that responsible gamblers can have fun and not be a terrorist. There is a site that helps you find online poker rooms that still accept American players at
http://OneStopHoldem. (Continued…)
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