As US Looks To Re-legalize Online Poker, Germany Bans It

from the moving-in-opposite-directions dept

Mon, Sep 22nd 2008 7:46pm — Mike Masnick

Just as the US seems to be moving forward with efforts to relegalize online poker, it appears that Germany is moving in the opposite direction, passing a law to ban online poker -- even to the point of allowing German authorities to put online poker players in jail (though, no one seems to think that's likely to happen).

Filed Under: ban, germany, jailtime, online poker

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Historian, 22 Sep 2008 @ 8:32pm

Let's be clear here.
The bill doesn't "legalize" online gambling.

The new legislation would delay implementation of earlier legislation that seeks to block Internet gambling long enough so Congress can figure out a way to tax it.

If you can't stop it... regulate (tax) it.
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gordon e grover, 22 Sep 2008 @ 10:39pm

ON LINE POKER
YOU CAN,T STOP GAMBLE POEPLE ARE GOING TO DO AS ALWAYS; LIFE IS A GAMBLE;
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PaulT (profile), 23 Sep 2008 @ 2:57am

Hmmm...

Something seems a bit fishy about this article. The linked article gives absolutely zero real information, while a Google search brings up news suggesting that this law has been in effect for a while. It's been enforced in 13 German states since the 1st January, but some online poker sites are still trying to fight it.

Anyone have more real details?

@Historian: "If you can't stop it... regulate (tax) it."

If only governments would realise that about other things they spend billions trying to ban.
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Poker Guy, 23 Sep 2008 @ 2:57am

Good luck!
I agree, people are going to gamble online and where ever they can. I say that the authorities need to realise this is allow it to happen. There is enough crime for them to deal with, without worrieng about gambling. Becides it is a nice revinue source for them anyway, if they can sort the taxing of it out.
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