College Online Poker Players React to House Bill
A bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would ban most types of Internet gambling would not affect Penn State poker players unless the Bill is passed by the Senate and ultimately approved by George W. Bush.
With countless students playing a game of poker while sitting in their dorm rooms or in one of the many computer labs on campus, the bill, if passed by the U.S. Senate, would prohibit an activity that many people have grown to enjoy.
"I think the Internet is nice, the only place where you can find millions of players at all hours of the day," Danny Cherlow said.
"Playing with your friends is nice, but not everyone is around all the time. It's nice to find people from all around the world who speak different languages. Poker is one language," said Cherlow, who estimates he wagered more than $10,000 in gambling as a freshman.
The bill has caused online poker players from around the world to raise their eyebrows and question the government's motives for it.
"It would make no sense for them to ban it, unless they think it ruins family life," said Scott Horowitz, who plays 5/10 no limit on PokerStars.com. "Gambling will go on no matter what. It would just make people want to play more if they ever did."
One of the problems the government has expressed with online gaming is that they are unable to regulate and tax the companies and individuals that profit from the sites.
Competition over the computer provides players with the ability to see more hands at once through "multi-tabling", the practice of having multiple card tables open at the same time. Online gaming also offers players the chance to play for whatever stakes they can afford.
Juggling classes and 20 hours per week on Internet poker sites, Pao, who uses Firepay.com to transfer money from his bank account to the sites, said he once won $2,500 in an online tournament. Online sites that offer games at all hours of the day truly provide a chance to learn and become better through trial by fire at the tables, Pao said.
"In live games, you have to wait around for players," Pao said. "Online, you have a community of people and it gives you the opportunity to improve your game. It also allows you to play real late at night."
With a sizeable portion of Penn State poker players under the age of 21, some said banning Internet gambling would prevent a player from fine tuning his or her game before legally venturing to a casino. Other drawbacks of land-based casinos, Penn State poker players said, is that they are far from campus and collect a higher "rake", the portion of money the house takes per hand from the pot.
July 26, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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