Don't know if you have any expertise in this, but since you have worked at a lot of the card rooms figured I would give it a shot. I am trying to find out about the legalities of playing poker online. I live in a state that does not have gambling, but don't know if it is illegal to play from my home computer at a reputable site like partypoker.com or some of the others. Any thoughts on this?
Second question, do you know of any poker seminars that are given by some of the pros? I have been playing amateur poker for years, am about to retire from the military, and am considering playing cards full time. Thanks in advance.
Chris
Answer The most prominent expert on gambling law is I. Nelson Rose.
Here is a link to an article he wrote on the legality of gambling on the internet.
Basically outside of this article I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for gambling on the net. However the IRS would be interested in any transactions exceeding $5000. (You should be so lucky as to have that as a problem.)
I do play poker online and while I do not have any problems with the random generator that produces the hands, almost every game you play online does have partners. While it is possible to play and win against partnerships as they tend to overplay their hands, it can be frustrating and will cramp your style of play.
As to your second question I cannot recommend any poker seminars. I have attended seminars at the Bicycle Club in Bell Gardens and the only real advantage is that you get an insight on how other players think and play. Especially the other players that attend the seminar.
I've always suggested 3 books to people that ask me. Doyle Brunsens, David Sklansky and Herbert Yardley. You need to read Brunsens and Sklansky books as almost every serious player has and you should have some idea as to how they are thinking, whether or not you choose to adapt their styles of play.
Yardley wrote "Education of a Poker Player" which while its standards of starting hands doesnt translate well to todays play, its a wonderful read and does describe the basis of a winning attitude. Also Yardley was an Intelligence Officer during WWII and one of the early officers in the then new CIA. He lived a fascinating life along with being a pretty decent poker player.
