Comments for Mark Gahagan http://spartanfox.com Covering Poker and Video Games off-and-on Since 2010 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:04:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Plot Thickens GBT States Professional Player Debt a “Significant” Hit Against Buying FTP by danm http://spartanfox.com/2012/02/02/the-plot-thickens/#comment-92 danm Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:04:51 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=350#comment-92 >> Well, so long as Full Tilt is in Tiltware/Pocket Kings hands << And therein lies the problem ... it is currently in the DOJ's hands. At least on legal US paper. >> Well, so long as Full Tilt is in Tiltware/Pocket Kings hands <<

And therein lies the problem … it is currently in the DOJ's hands. At least on legal US paper.

]]> Comment on Full Tilt Poker Sale Inches Closer Sale Not Done, Despite Reaction by dan michalski http://spartanfox.com/2011/09/30/full-tilt-poker-sale-inches-closer/#comment-63 dan michalski Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:58:53 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=260#comment-63 "career cynics"? lol ... i'll have to add that to the resume! “career cynics”? lol … i’ll have to add that to the resume!

]]> Comment on Embedded in the Poker Media: Day 2 EPL Pro/Am by MattCWaldron http://spartanfox.com/2011/08/08/embedded-in-the-poker-media-day-2-epl-proam/#comment-59 MattCWaldron Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:48:07 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=191#comment-59 Mark -- love the funny, raw stuff. Keep it up and good luck with the Epic league happenings. Mark — love the funny, raw stuff. Keep it up and good luck with the Epic league happenings.

]]> Comment on WSOP Coverage You Have to See by Rob Chapman http://spartanfox.com/2011/06/13/wsop-coverage-you-have-to-see/#comment-38 Rob Chapman Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:22:31 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=163#comment-38 Well crap, between the WSOPLIVE stream, PKRGSSP and your list I guess I can skip the drive to Vegas next week. Your list is spot on. Well crap, between the WSOPLIVE stream, PKRGSSP and your list I guess I can skip the drive to Vegas next week. Your list is spot on.

]]> Comment on Claims Service: FTP Anger Brewing by Rob C http://spartanfox.com/2011/05/16/claims-service-ftp-anger-brewing/#comment-25 Rob C Mon, 16 May 2011 09:07:21 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=118#comment-25 FTP definitely shot themselves in the foot. They must be using the same company for Public Relations that runs their CR / Email Support line. FTP definitely shot themselves in the foot. They must be using the same company for Public Relations that runs their CR / Email Support line.

]]> Comment on Pokerpocalypse 2011: So what can we do? by Jose Villadiego http://spartanfox.com/2011/04/18/pokerpocalypse-2011-so-what-can-we-do/#comment-15 Jose Villadiego Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:01:32 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=72#comment-15 Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on the matter and for the recomendation. Im not on the US so I can still play but I was affected by bacl friday in some way. About the hashtag I think #pokerpanic is the best out there. Villa Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on the matter and for the recomendation. Im not on the US so I can still play but I was affected by bacl friday in some way.

About the hashtag I think #pokerpanic is the best out there.

Villa

]]> Comment on Some (Attempt at) Sober Analysis Regarding Pokerpocalypse 2011 by Mark Gahagan http://spartanfox.com/2011/04/15/some-attempt-at-sober-analysis-regarding-pokerpocalypse-2011/#comment-14 Mark Gahagan Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:18:35 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=48#comment-14 I dont think the argument entirely falls apart. Even if gambling charges are withdrawn and even if they didn't violate the UIGEA, what they did to make banks think the transactions were not coming from their site still constitutes bank fraud, irrespective of the other charges. They might not get as much out of this in that scenario, but I do feel the DoJ has plenty of arrows in the quiver to argue that poker is gambling anyway. I dont think the argument entirely falls apart. Even if gambling charges are withdrawn and even if they didn’t violate the UIGEA, what they did to make banks think the transactions were not coming from their site still constitutes bank fraud, irrespective of the other charges. They might not get as much out of this in that scenario, but I do feel the DoJ has plenty of arrows in the quiver to argue that poker is gambling anyway.

]]> Comment on Some (Attempt at) Sober Analysis Regarding Pokerpocalypse 2011 by Seven Burke http://spartanfox.com/2011/04/15/some-attempt-at-sober-analysis-regarding-pokerpocalypse-2011/#comment-13 Seven Burke Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:14:28 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=48#comment-13 Neat piece. Slightly disagree with one point, however. IF it is determined that poker does not fit the definition of gambling (because of the skill element involved) then it seems the Govt's case basically falls apart - even the money laundering. After all, you kind of need some kind of illegal activity on the other end; otherwise, spurious financial arrangements are just that - and out of the reach of DOJ. Seems to hinge on whether poker fits the definition of gambling. I like to compare poker to roulette. When you put money on the roulette table, there is virtually zero skill involved in the outcome. It is 100% chance. By contrast, you don't even have to put up money to see your cards in poker (unless you're in the blinds - and if that's a problem, they could get rid of blinds). Once you put money up to play a hand, the outcome of the hand is NOT determined entirely by chance. Big difference. Marriage is a gamble. I hate to think of the consequences if DOJ ever figures THAT out. Neat piece. Slightly disagree with one point, however.

IF it is determined that poker does not fit the definition of gambling (because of the skill element involved) then it seems the Govt’s case basically falls apart – even the money laundering. After all, you kind of need some kind of illegal activity on the other end; otherwise, spurious financial arrangements are just that – and out of the reach of DOJ.

Seems to hinge on whether poker fits the definition of gambling.

I like to compare poker to roulette. When you put money on the roulette table, there is virtually zero skill involved in the outcome. It is 100% chance.

By contrast, you don’t even have to put up money to see your cards in poker (unless you’re in the blinds – and if that’s a problem, they could get rid of blinds). Once you put money up to play a hand, the outcome of the hand is NOT determined entirely by chance.

Big difference.

Marriage is a gamble. I hate to think of the consequences if DOJ ever figures THAT out.

]]> Comment on Some (Attempt at) Sober Analysis Regarding Pokerpocalypse 2011 by redboy http://spartanfox.com/2011/04/15/some-attempt-at-sober-analysis-regarding-pokerpocalypse-2011/#comment-12 redboy Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:21:42 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=48#comment-12 The most likely scenario that everyone seems to be overlooking, even thought it has already started in Canada in British Columbia with province run poker site playnow which is also operating in Quebec; is for State run poker/gaming sites ONLY, allowing the State to fill it's coffers with gambling revenue they are losing to online poker, Indian casinos, etc. Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) is also looking to start online site as well. This means all Canadian poker will be re-routed through legislation to government run poker sites. Look for the Canadian government to follow suit with the US and stop all outside poker sites from operating in Canada to allow for provincial run lottery/gaming sites. The most likely scenario that everyone seems to be overlooking, even thought it has already started in Canada in British Columbia with province run poker site playnow which is also operating in Quebec; is for State run poker/gaming sites
ONLY, allowing the State to fill it’s coffers with gambling revenue they are losing to online poker, Indian casinos, etc.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) is also looking to start online site as well. This means all Canadian poker will be re-routed through legislation to government run poker sites. Look for the Canadian government to follow suit with the US and stop all outside poker sites from operating in Canada to allow for provincial run lottery/gaming sites.

]]> Comment on Some (Attempt at) Sober Analysis Regarding Pokerpocalypse 2011 by Mark Gahagan http://spartanfox.com/2011/04/15/some-attempt-at-sober-analysis-regarding-pokerpocalypse-2011/#comment-11 Mark Gahagan Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:07:50 +0000 http://spartanfox.com/?p=48#comment-11 I'm not sure its an either-or. I'm pretty sure this would have happened regardless. If PS and FT had said ok to a blackout and the law passed I still think the SDNY would have indicted the parties involved. If you believe that there was a backroom deal, the end result is the same either way. I’m not sure its an either-or. I’m pretty sure this would have happened regardless. If PS and FT had said ok to a blackout and the law passed I still think the SDNY would have indicted the parties involved. If you believe that there was a backroom deal, the end result is the same either way.

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