Poker leads to bank robbery
 

Just saw this on the Today show. Apparently this seemingly good kid ran up 5k in online poker debt and he had to pay it back somehow right? heh. Interesting story, not sure if it has been posted yet.

article

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

Up to 20 years and nobody died? Thats crap. He might do 4 and if he's lucky he can get an internet connection at some point...

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

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Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

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yeah, he definitely deserves some punishment for his actions.

I find some of the quotes from the article about online poker more interesting though.

"Now the 19-year-old son of a Baptist minister faces up to 20 years in prison on bank robbery charges, and his lawyer says the nationwide poker craze is partly to blame."

and

"William N. Thompson, professor of public policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, isn't among them. Thompson said the poker craze had arrived and Hogan was another of its victims. "It's everywhere and now it's even on the Internet, where there is almost no controls," Thompson said. "You can expect it to get worse, and you can expect to see more and more college students fall into it."

These type of stories are what make online poker seem to be a damage to society. And its even worse when it makes national news. Many politions see things like this and become aware of the negative, but they don't necessarily see the positives. They also see that they aren't making any taxes off the online poker companies.

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

He will deserve more punishment if he blows the lid off non-taxed income...

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

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if he's lucky he can get an internet connection at some point

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nice

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

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Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

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"Now the 19-year-old son of a Baptist minister faces up to 20 years in prison

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Daddy never told him there'd be SIIHP like this.

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

wonder if he was a 2+2er.

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

No, he couldn't be. All 2+2'ers are winners!

Re: Poker leads to bank robbery
 

This is terrible, this gives Poker a black eye, can't tell you how many people sat their and listened to this story on the Today show and not only shook their head and reconfirmed to themselves why they don't gamble. But they also shook their head and said "Yup, that's what anyone who is crazy enough to play poker is capable of doing"

This is why people have laws on the books about "illegal card rooms"

I think the poker community should make an effort to reach out in this situation. Possibly hire the kid a lawyer if the Walderon attorney is a court-appointed, or at least be there for his court date, possibly do a campaign for Wachovia. Something to promote goodwill. I would hope (futily of course) that the online poker site would excuse his debt. Also, maybe someone could teach this kid how to play.