The online gambling dilemma.

[Anonymous]

I've always had friendly poker nights with buddies of mine since high school, with relatively low stakes with buy-ins at around $5.00.

I started playing online poker a little while ago -- deposited $10.00 with my AmEx, which was surprisingly easy -- and played some low stakes poker for awhile but I haven't really had time to play of late.

I've always enjoyed poker and find it to be a fun and relaxing social activity, while at the same time exciting and very intellectually stimulating. Ironically, poker nights end up being cheaper than going out the vast majority of the time.

While I do enjoy the game and have enjoyed using online poker sites, recently I'm starting to feel like these online gambling sites are negatively impacting our society. They prey on an underage demographic with all of the commercials they run on TV and with the World Series of Poker events that run on ESPN2. And on top of that there is nothing from keeping someone from saying that they were born in 1980 as opposed to 2000. The following is a recent statement release from the New York State Executive Chamber.

...The New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, “With the constant barrage of televised gambling, online poker matches and Hollywood glamorization of gambling, New York’s youth are developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable. There is no such thing as responsible gambling for those under 18. It is illegal and can have severe life-long consequences.”...

There doesn't seem to be any sort of dialogue on this issue from what I can tell. Anyone have any opinions on the matter?

[MidnightVoice]

When I lived in NY (a decade ago) there were a bunch of TV ads for alcoholics.  Then I moved to Iowa and they were all for gamblers because of all the casinos and riverboats- call 1-800-Betsoff I think it is 

[cobra19]

...The New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, “With the constant barrage of televised gambling, online poker matches and Hollywood glamorization of gambling, New York’s youth are developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable. There is no such thing as responsible gambling for those under 18. It is illegal and can have severe life-long consequences.”...

Actually, there has been quite a bit of dialogue about this subject online in various blogs. I live in NY, and what the above paragraph means is.......if we could find a way to tax it, we would really be more in favor of it.  Video games, where gamers shoot cops, does a heck of a lot more in contributing to "developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable" than does online poker.

[llecs]

Gambling is bad, speaking from personal experience anyway. About 5 or so years ago, I decided to open up a cash account online similar to Paypal. I deposited money in from my checking account and opened a second account with an online gambling site. I would gamble by staying late at the office and would blow through about $200 per week. I did this for about 6 weeks straight and found that I was getting addicted to gambling. At least I had enough will-power to go cold turkey and haven't gambled since.

While this was a few years ago, it was very easy to open accounts. No ID was needed. There were no verifications needed. All I had to do was to say that I was over 21, and that was that.

I'd guess I would ban online gambling (I thought it was already banned). Anyway couple it with prevention via the media, 1800-hotline numbers, and publicity for arrests as private gambling would be more commonplace.

[Junejer]

---

cobra19 wrote:

...The New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, “With the constant barrage of televised gambling, online poker matches and Hollywood glamorization of gambling, New York’s youth are developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable. There is no such thing as responsible gambling for those under 18. It is illegal and can have severe life-long consequences.”...

Actually, there has been quite a bit of dialogue about this subject online in various blogs. I live in NY, and what the above paragraph means is.......if we could find a way to tax it, we would really be more in favor of it.  Video games, where gamers shoot cops, does a heck of a lot more in contributing to "developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable" than does online poker.

---

Agree 100%

[wmarat]

You used your Amex for gambling

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I've always had friendly poker nights with buddies of mine since high school, with relatively low stakes with buy-ins at around $5.00.

I started playing online poker a little while ago -- deposited $10.00 with my AmEx, which was surprisingly easy -- and played some low stakes poker for awhile but I haven't really had time to play of late.

I've always enjoyed poker and find it to be a fun and relaxing social activity, while at the same time exciting and very intellectually stimulating. Ironically, poker nights end up being cheaper than going out the vast majority of the time.

While I do enjoy the game and have enjoyed using online poker sites, recently I'm starting to feel like these online gambling sites are negatively impacting our society. They prey on an underage demographic with all of the commercials they run on TV and with the World Series of Poker events that run on ESPN2. And on top of that there is nothing from keeping someone from saying that they were born in 1980 as opposed to 2000. The following is a recent statement release from the New York State Executive Chamber.

...The New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, “With the constant barrage of televised gambling, online poker matches and Hollywood glamorization of gambling, New York’s youth are developing a skewed perception of what is acceptable. There is no such thing as responsible gambling for those under 18. It is illegal and can have severe life-long consequences.”...

There doesn't seem to be any sort of dialogue on this issue from what I can tell. Anyone have any opinions on the matter?

---

[Anonymous]

When I opened my cash account, I had to provide my social, employer, DOB,  current address. There was a problem with my address as I had moved and had to mail in all of the proof. I guess it all depends on the site you try to get an account with. But, how many people under 18 have credit cards to open these accounts with? If they are AU's, then the owner of the account should be paying attention to the charges. I think I would notice if my child (anyone for that matter) was buying into an online gaming site.

[Junejer]

---

stef37 wrote:

When I opened my cash account, I had to provide my social, employer, DOB,  current address. There was a problem with my address as I had moved and had to mail in all of the proof. I guess it all depends on the site you try to get an account with. But, how many people under 18 have credit cards to open these accounts with? If they are AU's, then the owner of the account should be paying attention to the charges. I think I would notice if my child (anyone for that matter) was buying into an online gaming site.

---

Dang, did they pull your CR?

A debit card (an 18 y.o. could get one of those), would work just as well as a CC.

Message Edited by ByrdMan on 10-14-2008 05:57 PM

[Anonymous]

They could have. This was opened back in 2005 and at that time, I had not bothered to check my reports for such things.

[FretlessMayhem]

I've used my Amex cards in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Dover Delaware for cash advances at casinos and they haven't seemed to mind yet. They keep sending me prequals for every other card they offer.

Then again, I already did the FR.