FCC Ruling: Will it affect online poker???

[Messy_Jesse]

CNN Article

The gist of the article is that broadband lines are now an "information service" and not a part of traditional telephone service. Thus, broadband services are not subject to traditional telephone rules/laws.

I think I remember the question about the legality of online poker revolved around the fact that it was gambling over a telephone line, which is prohibited by law. I think this new ruling negates any questions about online gambling being illegal, since it is not done over a telephone line as the FCC sees it, and therefore is not subject to the Wire Act.

What do you think?


-Jess

[Greg J]

I didn't even think about that possibility. I was pissed b/c it means now I (probably) can't switch to another DSL service after my contract is up.

I would be interested to see what Cubs or one of the other gurus on this subject has to say about it.

[MicroBob]

I too would be interested to hear Cubs take on this.


Not sure if the FCC's determination for their purposes would carry-over to the 'wire-act' as it applies to gambling or not.


I like your optimistic take on it though.
but I don't think this is 'law' that would apply in that way. I think it's just a decision by the FCC over how THEY want to view DSL.


And technically this still might not even effect the internet-gambling bit even if it WAS law.
Would internet-poker be illegal if I'm on a dial-up line but okay if i'm on broadband??

I don't think this particular ruling gets us very far....but, again, I like your take on it and would be interested in what Cubs or Granny think about this.

[Luv2DriveTT]

Actually this may be very bad for internet gambling, as the WTO ruling (in regards to overseas horse betting) may no longer apply. I'll let those who are more familiar with the subject discuss, CubsWin seems to be quite knowledgeable about this.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[DesertCat]

[ QUOTE ]
CNN Article

I think I remember the question about the legality of online poker revolved around the fact that it was gambling over a telephone line, which is prohibited by law. I think this new ruling negates any questions about online gambling being illegal, since it is not done over a telephone line as the FCC sees it, and therefore is not subject to the Wire Act.

[/ QUOTE ]

cubswin knows all, but until he shows I'll put my questionably accurate two cents in. I've heard that courts have ruled the wire act only applies to "sports betting" and it's just the justice department flexing it's muscles when it tries to claim the wire act applies to all gambling. So the FCC ruling wouldn't matter.

[MicroBob]

the wire-act has only PREVIOUSLY been applied to sports-betting.

That doesn't mean that it does NOT apply to internet-poker.
It just means that it hasn't been tested in the courts yet.

Tey have NOT specifically indicated that the wire-act only applies to sports-betting.
It's people like us who are hoping it is interpreted that way and are always saying things like 'dude....that law was put in place for sports-wagers made over the phone. It was before the internet even existed and was OBVIOUSLY not supposed to encompass that.'

whereas the DOJ and other anti-internet-poker types are saying "hey....it just says interstate wagering made over telephone wires (or whatever it says) and it sure looks to us like poker on the internet crosses uses the telephones wires and goes across states (and even countries)'


both sides are making their arguments. but no court (to my knowledge) has rules specifically one way or the other as to whether the wire-act actually DOES or DOES NOT apply to internet-gambling and internet-poker.

[Cubswin]

You guys are all inflating my already oversized ego [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Let me sober up tonight and write something thoughtful and coherent after my run tomorrow morning (does my working out give away the fact im single once again?)

cubs

[BottlesOf]

What year are you? Do yourself a favor and don't tell the guys who play in Faunce about 2+2 [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Messy_Jesse]

Ill be a sohpomore. Haha and those guys are chumps- I dont a year of 2+2 could save them.