Laws on sportsbetting vs. Poker

[postaldoug]

It seems to me they should be the same. The Feds don't like sportsbetting, but online poker is growing. This is good, IMO. Prohibition against gambling online is tougher,with more players. I'm not sure how many Americans gamble online, I'd think over a million. ESPN poker coverage doesn't hurt.

I think the poker draws a slightly different crowd. Most sports bettors have probably played poker, not as sure about poker players betting games.

Many will eventually cross-over. It's all good, in terms of protecting our right to gamble. It's kind of ridiculous when you look at LV Hilton contest. Many non LV residents would enter, but the process of cutting in a proxy, discourages many. The IRS could even hold a percentage paid to winners, like a racetrack does when you hit a nice trifecta. I'm not for that, but it's workable. I guess they might already do that, but I believe it's not done ...YET.

My point is that Poker will help sportsbetting remain "legal" in the upcoming years.

 

[FunkSoulBrother]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Many will eventually cross-over. It's all good, in terms of protecting our right to gamble. It's kind of ridiculous when you look at LV Hilton contest. Many non LV residents would enter, but the process of cutting in a proxy, discourages many. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know this isn't exactly the on topic, but this raises the question: Why hasn't a sportsbook put together a $1,000+ buyin tournament for the NFL season similar to the Hilton one?

I'd do it, provided they published everyones picks each week. (Sorry Hollywood)

Anyone know why a book hasn't offered something like this? Would there not be a couple hundred guys to generate a $200,000+ pot online? I know they probably wouldn't be able to rake it but you have to imagine if one guy comes out in 1st with $50,000 in his account he will gamble at least some of it....

 

[postaldoug]

FSB; There probably exists such an animal, where I'm not sure. It could dwarf the Hilton, and GN contests, easily ! A fee of some sort for the book would be acceptable, if low.

 

[WildBill]

Because contests are done in Nevada to stimulate business, ie. foot traffic. Offshores on the other hand just see the hassle of having to keep track of it, especially since a lot of their best customers still use the phones and don't want to go online for it. Little or no reward, lots of trouble online. And the little known secret, some of those contests in Vegas make a lot of money for the house. They have set prizes, but they aren't based on entries as I pointed out in a recent article. They advertise them a ton and give them top billing for over a month. That should tell you they are making some coin off of them on top of the extra traffic.

 

[postaldoug]

Wildbill: I can't read the articles, they never show-up on homepage. I count myself lucky, just to get into the forums.

The WSOP pays out all entry fees in prizes, right ? The foot traffic/TV coverage should make it worthwhile for the host casinos.

Hopefully I'll be able to read homepage articles, once Infopoop, is retired.

 

[postaldoug]

Oops : I crossed threads. I went into poker, in a football thread, my bad.

 

[WildBill]

What if you type www.therx.com to see the homepage?

WSOP holds a percentage fee to pay for staffing and tokes. Still over 90% paid out. If you saw the kinds of advertising done by some of the locals places in Vegas you would believe they were holding a lot of money. I will try to do a check one of these days on the pool size, but hard to be accurate because they give some free entries away "buy two get one free" type stuff.

 

[postaldoug]

WB: It doesn't work. The approx 60% of bottom portion of page is dark blue. Maybe 1 % of the time I'll get it. I've come to expect that. If the forums work 75 % of the time, I'm OK with that, too.I spend too much time here as it is.

 

[postaldoug]

WB: I'm disappointed. I thought that WSOP was 100% payback. I don't expect to ever enter into it, I've never played no-limit

 

[Woody0]

WSOP was essentially 100% payback, apart from entry fee, i.e. 100% of the 10K was paid back. in recent years 3% or 3.5% has been held back for dealer gratutuies, to eliminate the stiffing of dealers.

 

[Fishhead]

DOUG- I agree with you whole heartedly with your perception that online poker is a positive for offshore sportsbetting.

Good thread