Gambling

[Vinjay]

Having just commented on Vegas and MLS its the right time to post a thread on that matter.

I'm 100% in support of gambling and fortunately in the UK laws are less stringent than certain states in the US. Poker sites for instance have not been victimised on the ludicrous scale that has prohibited certain sites from the US market. Bad poker players ought to be shot but that's a different matter entirely...

So what are all your thoughts on gambling and why are you for or against it? Corruption could be taken into account to an extent but surely for the most part it should come down to PERSONAL CHOICE. Just like drinking is a personal choice and nobody would dare ban that. Prohibition was disastrous enough the last time it was attempted (in the US) but anyway this is about GAMBLING.

 

[CP_Scouse]

I dobt get why gambling is frowned upon.

 

[jerseyhotspur]

I think that all vices (including drugs) should be legalized (AND heavily regulated, of course).

People are going to gamble (whether it's legal or not) so you might as well generate taxes on it.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

I go to casinos on occasion. Not the biggest fan as the ones in FL are Indian casinos and their payouts are horrendous (they're basically not regulated). Vegas is fun though.
For the most part I just bet on fantasy games. I do daily fantasy leagues. Started with $20 and have withdrawn $50+ twice already off of the original $20 so in doing alright.

 

[MrE]

I think that all vices (including drugs) should be legalized (AND heavily regulated, of course).

People are going to gamble (whether it's legal or not) so you might as well generate taxes on it.

I agree with jerseyhotspur to an extent, but whilst I was legalising the vices, I would ban all taxes !!!

 

[Vinjay]

That depends how you define the word vices. Many would say it means immoral but who's got the right to say gambling is immoral? Once again it comes back to religious values being imposed whether you're a believer or not. I don't frequent casinos but I do gamble and play poker online. I couldn't care less if some people think that is unethical. Professional gamblers probably get even more abuse than recreational and much of that probably comes from jealousy not ethics. Of course there has to be regulation but people confuse that with ethics. Its not remotely the same thing regulation should not be an ethical debate.

 

[MrE]

That depends how you define the word vices. Many would say it means immoral but who's got the right to say gambling is immoral? Once again it comes back to religious values being imposed whether you're a believer or not. I don't frequent casinos but I do gamble and play poker online. I couldn't care less if some people think that is unethical. Professional gamblers probably get even more abuse than recreational and much of that probably comes from jealousy not ethics. Of course there has to be regulation but people confuse that with ethics. Its not remotely the same thing regulation should not be an ethical debate.

I run a pub (& drink), I smoke, I play poker every week (over the table) and never a Saturday during the football season goes by without me placing a bet on the results. I pay tax on what I earn, and almost everything I do. It is not the lifestyle thats immoral but the taxes.

If you work and do fuck all else you don't pay tax, those of us that generate money to the economy are fucking taxed to high heaven.... Most taxes are immoral, Governments should either charge on what people earn or what they spend. But in most cases they do both.

Give me an honest politician who will charge me circa 65% on income tax and stop all other taxes forthwith, or 65 % on what I spend and give me the choice, and I will shake his hand.

If you work out that 40% is spent on earnings, 20% on spending (excluding the loading on things like fuel / cigarettes, alcohol etc) then your council taxes etc, I bet you end up paying 65% or more total on taxes.

Sorry rant over back on topic....

 

[MikeDatTiger]

My impression has been the US's anti-gambling laws have been less religiously based and more "blue collar law"/paternalistic. The thinking is that gambling can be particularly harmful to the poor who are more likely to not understand the mathematics behind the bets/odds and are more likely to be "duped". Addiction is another problem, and the results of those addictions on the families can be devastating. From a sports level, the high regulation reduces the likely that the matches are fixed by gambling syndicates, which appears to be a problem in other countries.

So I see some good reasons for gambling to be as heavily restricted/regulated as it is. I have no idea how societies change with looser regulations, so I'm curious what some of our English friends say about it.

 

[413Blue]

I don't gamble with the exception of Poker, in fact I used to play poker professionally after my old company went out of business and before "black friday" of 2011 when the DOJ basically shut down online poker. I think online poker as well as heavily regulated sports betting should be legal. Take that money out of the mafia and offshore criminals and make it safe.

 

[Vinjay]

I don't gamble with the exception of Poker, in fact I used to play poker professionally after my old company went out of business and before "black friday" of 2011 when the DOJ basically shut down online poker. I think online poker as well as heavily regulated sports betting should be legal. Take that money out of the mafia and offshore criminals and make it safe.

Well Pokerstars have recently been taken over so the new owners might be an important step forward. Especially since they aren't wanted on federal charges...

Did you play mostly cash games and what stakes?

 

[413Blue]

Well Pokerstars have recently been taken over so the new owners might be an important step forward. Especially since they aren't wanted on federal charges...

Did you play mostly cash games and what stakes?

I played everything online, mostly preferred PLO for cash games. I loved six-max SNG's and would play the weekly major tournaments. I still play quite often at Foxwoods and occasionally on Bovada, but it's not the same as the good ole days of 5-10 years ago!

 

[Vinjay]

I played everything online, mostly preferred PLO for cash games. I loved six-max SNG's and would play the weekly major tournaments. I still play quite often at Foxwoods and occasionally on Bovada, but it's not the same as the good ole days of 5-10 years ago!

Unfortunately I'm not a pro (wouldn't call myself a fish though) and I play solely online and like the majority mainly no limit hold'em. Considering I've lost my temper countless times (mainly with stupid lucky fish) it probably wouldn't be a good idea for me to play in person! I've only played for a year and half and wouldn't recommend poker to those who struggle with anger management. Haven't exactly failed but it depends on how much bankroll you're willing to put forward. Did win my first tournament (not counting sit and goes) last month albeit it at extremely low stakes so wasn't a huge amount.

Never played Bovada isn't that under the ipoker network? I've tried several sites think I'm going to restrict myself to Pokerstars, 888, Full Tilt and PKR. The most unique is PKR its in 3D and has character/voice animation. The voice animation even has a few light insults (fresh fish, up yours and stuff like that LOL) but they could go a step further. Maybe someone will create a similar site but with animated violence (and more vulgar insults) so you can lean over and punch some donk in the face LOL. That would probably be extremely successful.

 

[413Blue]

Never played Bovada isn't that under the ipoker network? I've tried several sites think I'm going to restrict myself to Pokerstars, 888, Full Tilt and PKR.

Absolutely, if you live outside the US and you should really go no further than those options. Bovada is independent and operates as Bodog in the rest of the world, but I believe they pulled out of the UK and most of Europe to focus on Asia.