Comments on: How Online Gamblers Unmasked Cheaters

60 Minutes/Washington Post Joint Investigation Questions Honesty, Security Of Gambling Sites

[brian9194x]

"Yea, 60 minutes and the Washington Post have a long history of deceptive and misleading investigations into online poker. Clearly, they have an axe-to-grind against UltimateBet.com, that''''s obvious. I can even count how many times they have have been exposed, themselves, as frauds."

--The NFL which has a contract with CBS does.

[dreamline78]

"Let me see if I can clear this up for you...online ''''gaming'''' (poker, virtual horse racing, casino games, etc.) ran from banana repulics, overseen by flaccid puppet regulatory ''''commissions'''', without any consumer protection at all, are scams.

Did that clear things up for you? "

That is why we want online poker to be regulated by the U.S. Online horserace betting is legal because it''s regulated and taxed. We want the same for poker. Why are you so much against that? I don''t think you have answered that.

[marcpratt]

"again marc, you have no facts to back this up."

And you have to facts that it isn''t or hasn''t been going on all along. All evidence and common sense is overwhelmingly against online poker.

So, you can roll that up really tight, and cram it where the sun doesn''t shine.

[marcpratt]

"I wouldn''''t be too proud of that statement. again mark movies and not everything you see on TV is real and always based on accurate facts. I guess when you go to the grocery store and see the tabloid stating George Bush is an alien you believe it because its printed in the "news media"."

Yea, 60 minutes and the Washington Post have a long history of deceptive and misleading investigations into online poker. Clearly, they have an axe-to-grind against UltimateBet.com, that''s obvious. I can even count how many times they have have been exposed, themselves, as frauds.

You are a moron.

[brian9194x]

"This is positively going on at all the sites"

--again marc, you have no facts to back this up. this is your own speculation about something you know nothing about. again your claim is ludicrous. we aren''t surprised.

[brian9194x]

"Well, since I have the same opinion as CBS News and the Washington Post, I guess I''ll consider that a compliment and simply dismiss your drivel. "

I wouldn''t be too proud of that statement. again mark movies and not everything you see on TV is real and always based on accurate facts. I guess when you go to the grocery store and see the tabloid stating George Bush is an alien you believe it because its printed in the "news media".

[marcpratt]

..."Also, all of the cheating that was exposed took place on two sites, which happen to be co-owned: Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet."

I think you mean to say "the only cheaters that got caught, only due to a mistake by the sites themselves, were at Absolute and UB". This is positively going on at all the sites and to suggest otherwise is laughable.

[brian9194x]

regardless of whether the "off-shore" businesses or not, isn''t this whole debate about getting our government to regulate this industry?? quit trying to change the subject marc. you make it seem like we are fighting against regulation, when really WE ALL WANT REGULATION!!

[marcpratt]

"apparently your defintion of "hard evidence of fraud" is whats really so pathetic"

Well, since I have the same opinion as CBS News and the Washington Post, I guess I''ll consider that a compliment and simply dismiss your drivel.

[marcpratt]

Let me see if I can clear this up for you...online ''gaming'' (poker, virtual horse racing, casino games, etc.) ran from banana repulics, overseen by flaccid puppet regulatory ''commissions'', without any consumer protection at all, are scams.

Did that clear things up for you?

[dreamline78]

No one is trying to dismiss the "hard evidence of fraud". I mean, it only took place about two years ago, and was nothing the online poker community at large didn''t already know about, but...Bravo, CBS! Some real sharp journalism there.

Also, all of the cheating that was exposed took place on two sites, which happen to be co-owned: Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. None of the players here, including myself, currently play there, not intend to put one dime online with either site. Could something like this possibly ever happen on one of the two big sites? Anything is possible. But worrying about it like worrying that your deep-sea fishing expedition will be tragically cut short by a surfacing submarine.

[brian9194x]

apparently your defintion of "hard evidence of fraud" is whats really so pathetic

[marcpratt]

Yea, you got me. Consumer protection is normally a very combative arguement to US citizens. Most really don''t appreciate the effort to protect them from off-shore scams.

[brian9194x]

"How about WE increase our banning of online poker and start prosecuting players instead?"

--What does WE insinuate? Fishy remark by marc. Sounds like he does have a special interest in smearing online poker.
just stating the obvious.

"How about players go to actual casinos, under US law and actual gaming commissions, with actual dealers, dealing actual cards, and try their ''''luck'''' there."

--what about online horse betting? why is that ok? why not go to the track? Also let me point out, that math and computers are capable of producing the same results as a dealer at a casino. yes its complicated marc, but it''s true. way above your head though so I understand.

[marcpratt]

LMFAO...I guess you''ll just have to continue to "shut me down" since I''m ''losing'' this arguement. Honestly, this effort to try to dismiss the hard evidence of fraud is so pathetic that it''s comical. So please "shut me down" all day and night.

[dreamline78]

Wow, your arguments are starting to closer and closer resemble the rantings of Stephen Katz. Are you familiar with him? I remember reading several articles he wrote warning about the evils of online gambling, poker in particular. His argument: it is impossible to beat games that have a rake. of course this comletely ignores the fact that poker games in casinos are also raked, typically at higher rates than online games. Yet in discussion forums he would label anyone who would stand up for online poker, as a shill for a poker site, just like you''re doing. Incidentally, you can pick up Mr. Katz''s book, Gambling Facts and Fictions: The Anti-Gambling Handbook , at your local bookstore for only $29.95. But that isn''t self-serving, right?

[brian9194x]

Good points dream. as you know and everyone knows that has been following this thread, marcs comments about broken English, shills, and personal attacks are only weak attempts at veering off the debate that he is so clearly losing and misguided in. he is only here to smear online poker no matter what the cost. considering this is a thread, imo perfect English is the least of any of our worries and there is probably a good chance that we are just typing super quick because unlike marc we are working a professional/ respectable job at the same time.

but as you have stated dream, you have been following this thread and I''m sure many others are as well and it is important we set the record straight because marc is underestimating the American public that is reading and hoping they can''t read between the lines and see the real facts of this debate and that his statements and accusations are absurd, irrational and close minded.

Marc you can continue, and we will continue to shut you down all day and night.

[mattnxtc]

"I''''ll tell you what cowboy. How about we increase our banning of online poker and start prosecuting players instead? How about players go to actual casinos, under US law and actual gaming commissions, with actual dealers, dealing actual cards, and try their ''''luck'''' there."

- Would be interesting since as long as you dont live in one of the 11 states that bans online gaming, it is otherwise legal.

- The bill that was passed is aimed not at the individual player, but at getting banks to follow suit (this is going to be impossible for a bank to do and will cost millions to attempt to comply which the average USA citizen will be forced to cover)

[marcpratt]

..."I assure you that I am not a shill or a stooge for any poker site."

Oh, well, if you going to assure me then that''s proof positive.

[marcpratt]

I''ll tell you what cowboy. How about we increase our banning of online poker and start prosecuting players instead? How about players go to actual casinos, under US law and actual gaming commissions, with actual dealers, dealing actual cards, and try their ''luck'' there.

For you to steer someone to yet another chat board swarming with industry numb-nuts with undocumented claims of glory is so absurd that it doesn''t even warrant further comment.

There is absolutely NO valid reason to play online nor ANY protection for the consumer. None. Nada. Nein.