Poker from Overseas as a US Citizen

southerndog · #1 10-30-2003, 06:25 PM

Hello All,

I have a coupla questions that can probably be answered by some people here.

In about 2-3 years, I will be moving to Thailand with my fiancee, where we will return to her native land to live for 5-10 years. My question is this, I see people on line from other countries, are all other countries allowed to play? If they didn't allow Thai citizens, would I still be allowed to since I am a US citizen? I am not a great poker player, but good enough to be winning money, and although its not a lot, it is more than I could earn in Thailand.

Also, my second question probably answers part of my first, but if people from say, China could play, why wouldn't they and earn a hundred times what they could earn doing anything else?

Thanks,

Dog

J.R. · #2 10-30-2003, 07:06 PM

Also, my second question probably answers part of my first, but if people from say, China could play, why wouldn't they and earn a hundred times what they could earn doing anything else?

These are rhetorical:
Are there expensive prerequisites to paying poker on the interent?

Is poker common in China?

Do you think the Chinese government would look favorably on such actions? I'd suspect the Chinese government's regulation of the interent, and internet gambling (they are socialist) might make the patriot act look like the bill of rights.

CrackerZack · #3 10-30-2003, 07:09 PM

Also, a 5-10 game to us isn't much, but in an impoverished nation, how exactly do you get the initial buyin?

M.B.E. · #4 10-30-2003, 09:12 PM

It's not really clear what you're asking when you want to know if you'll be able to play in Thailand.

(1) Are you asking whether the online sites will let you play? Yes, they sure will -- they don't care if it's illegal where you are.

(2) Are you asking whether the Thai authorities will have any objection to your playing online while in Thailand? I don't think you'll find anyone on this forum who knows the answer. Why not just ask the local police when you get to Thailand. It's a question of Thai law. But do keep in mind that being a U.S. citizen does not make you immune from Thai law (unless you are a diplomat or consular official). So if it turns out that it is illegal in Thailand to gamble over the Internet, you absolutely should not assume that the law does not apply to you because you're a U.S. citizen.

Emperor · #5 10-30-2003, 11:08 PM

Not only that but you will have to still pay US taxes! I checked into moving next door to davidross, tax law says if you make income anywhere in the universe and you are a US citizen then you MUST pay US taxes or be prepared for a federal indictment.

southerndog · #6 10-31-2003, 12:12 AM

I actually heard you can work oversees for one year tax free.

slavic · #7 10-31-2003, 01:39 PM

Hmm sounds like a plan in the works. Though I think it might be easier to use an Indian work force.

squiffy · #8 10-31-2003, 02:24 PM

Well, for one thing, I once read somewhere that the average person in China earns $300 per year. And there are many parts of China where there is no electricity. Those places that do have electricity are sometimes on rolling blackouts, routinely. Like every day. Always.

If you cannot afford a computer and cannot afford reliable internet access. It might be hard to play internet poker.

squiffy · #9 10-31-2003, 02:31 PM

Here is the link to the irs website. http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/page/0,,id=12236,00.html
Emperor is right. As a general rule, you owe U.S. tax even on foreign earned income. But there are exclusions and deductions if you paid tax on the income in the foreign country and their are foreign housing deductions. But I would think this would only help you if you pay a high tax or have expensive housing costs in the foreign country.

Anyway. Take a look at the IRS general info on this.

Interesting question.

Was actually surprised by the correct answer. I had always heard that people working overseas in Saudi Arabia or Japan did not owe U.S. income tax.

ExNihilo · #10 10-31-2003, 03:02 PM

I've been to China. The internet is on lockdown. There is no internet in private homes (except maybe for govt officials). The internet cafes require you to sign in, show id, and they log which computer you sit at. Then you sign out when you leave.

This might be more plausible where the internet is less restricted, but remember, the average Chinese worker would have to save years wages for the initial buyin.