Quote Originally Posted by Sanlmar View Post
DRK, We were discussing online poker & regulation in the SWC thread.

Pay Guido his money.


Quote Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
Short of this, we will have more Full Tilts and UBs, and the perpetrators will repeatedly get away with it.
I tossed out the notion that an online poker site should have differentiated themselves by retaining a big ten accounting firm.

I offered the transparency a public company like PokerStars offers. (Lol a little insider trading).

I now offer the following -
Assume folks did not get paid back (most were). I contend that as pissed off as these players would be most would put on their big boy pants and recognize in hindsight the risk they were taking not paying taxes and not being more diligent about the site's safety.

The guys that were burned 2004-2011 ARE NOT looking for big daddy government to look out for them. Given some kind of independent private review they would all deposit again UNREGULATED.

Your bloated, dysfunctional & corrupt governemnt has not been asked by consumers to get involved.

Poker players are wiser for the experience and will be smarter shoppers. PFA and others will spring up to fill the publics need for site review.

Edit:
Druff, I know you are fighting that urge to protect the players through regulation they do not want cause you know what's best for them.

Your professed Republican politics are suspect. careful what you wish for big guy
I support government regulation to prevent fraud, protect the public from physical harm, stop price-fixing or other anti-competitive behavior, ensure the delivery and reliability of essential services, and to protect the environment.

I do NOT support government regulations on prices, quality of non-essential services, artificially creating monopolies, or interference in how corporations deal with one another.

So in this poker case, I would want government regulations to ensure the suitability of operators, ensure that player money is being handled properly, guard against cheating scandals, provide a proper structure for player grievances, and provide criminal penalties for operators or players who cheat/scam.

I would NOT want the government to regulate rake, bonus deals, which games can be offered, or the limits that can be offered.

It is unbelievable to me that, in 2015, people believe that poker sites don't need some form of government regulation after everything that's happened. The "market will decide" model has failed. Even Lock Poker is still operating and taking deposits right now, and it took years of nonpayment to finally die down.

I saw manowar post that the government caused Full Tilt to lose our money. No, they didn't. I am shocked that you believe that.

I realize that some free-market-obsessed Republicans and libertarians believe in zero regulation, and that the free market will take care of everything. I don't believe that.

I realize that others on the left think that the government needs to protect the public in every little aspect from the evil corporations. I don't believe that, either.

There is a middle ground of intelligent, light-touch regulation which establishes framework for the important things while otherwise allowing the business to operate freely. That's what I want.