Legalities are bizarre...

[Chamber005]

Okay, so I was looking into playing online poker (mainly for tournament training), but when I looked into Illinois law it appeared to be prohibiting online gambling.

In my mind I couldn't conjure something as irrational as not being able to do something in the privacy of my own home that I could do at, say, a casino (that's like telling me I have to go to a bar to drink a beer or if I want a book I have to buy it at a physical bookstore), but whatever, the law seemed to lean toward no playing poker online for cash.

But then I figured it would be worth 50 bucks to swing by the attorney's office down the street and simply ask the question, "Is this legal?" because I still can't make heads or tails of the law the way it's written (for instance you can place bets for horse racing online Illinois -- and that's not online gambling???).

And the lawyer gave me the go ahead.

I'm so, so, so paranoid about all things legal because I think any judge at any time can thoroughly boink you if the mood strikes them, but I feel pretty confident now. Pokerstars.com said it was okay, the lawyer said it's okay and the law is bizarre and obtuse, so I feel at about an 85% clear -- which is about how safe I feel driving to and from these casinos on the expressway, so...

There ya go...

 

[Sad Max]

Remember that when you are in a judge's courtroom, the law is whatever the judge says it is.

 

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I would be more concerned with the fact that you have started 3 poker threads in the past couple of weeks.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

MAH

 

[GenJerDan]

No, no, no. Not when playing poker. Whether you're attempting to draw to an inside straight, or already have a royal flush from the get-go, never admit anything.

 

[Colonel Panic]

Sounds like you're rolling the dice on whether or not to gamble.rogar-Happy(DBG):

 

[Sad Max]

...or just trying to see if it's in the cards.