Barton Brings a Bill

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I like that the short (ahem) title of this 101-page document is Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA (which, itself, stands for 'Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act') Act of 2011. You can read the Act for yourself, here.

Seriously? I mean, come on. It took up three lines just to type that thing, guys. The initials alone make up a 9-letter acronym: IGPPCPSUA. Which, if said aloud, would sound something like "iggpeepeeceepeesewa." 

That's not going to work, people. 

Accordingly, I propose: GMTFBO, which...well, I'll let you wiggle out what that stands for (I will personally send a homemade music CD or, if you'd rather, a PokerLawyer t-shirt (yeah, it'll be homemade, too),  to the first person who guesses my acronym in the comments below).

It's 100 pages, so I'm still in the process of reading it, but @NoahSD over at Subject:Poker has done a nice initial review and there are already good articles on the interwebs, like this one, from @OskarGarcia. [Edit - @PokerScout1 also has a good analysis, which you can read here.]

I know what you're wondering: "So when's it going to pass so I can GMTFBO?!" This may help:

On a serious note (and especially if you live in Texas, since the bill lets states decide whether to participate, and, um, Rick Perry is our Governor), you should still contact your representatives by telephone and email to let them know you support it. When Black Friday hit, I wrote a Do Something post that contains all the information you need to know what to say and to whom to say it. You can bypass that link and go here if you just want to know who your reps are.

I'm not holding my breath, but I do think it's good news. Plus, it's Friday.

On that note, go ahead. Show us your cocktails (#SUYC).

Cheers

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In the aftermath of Black Friday, if there's any joy to be had in Mudville these days, I guess it's that the summer is upon us and the series is right around the corner (and that Representative Joe Barton has gone on record stating that he will introduce legislation that would "legalize and regulate online poker in the US".  I called his DC office and was told something will be available for review soon.  When asked to clarify "soon," I was told two weeks, so...).  And, Twitter is abuzz with people making their plans and gearing up for all the events.  I can't wait (I say, as though I've got a chance, which I do, and which I will never stop believing)!

I've been making my list and checking it twice as I gear up for my trip to the hole-ly land come June 27 and I think I've got my schedule pretty set.  Now to just keep the bankroll intact and to prepare for being away from home and from my loves for two whole weeks.  That's a lot of time and I'm a pretty selfish pig for taking advantage of it.  BUT.  I have a plan, and that plan is to win.  And to bring the spoils home to then spoil those that let me pursue my dream and live this life that I'm really quite blessed to live.

That's the plan, anyway.

In the meantime, whether you're making plans for a summer of poker, or just making plans for a summer of fun, I hope it's a really good one for you.

Cheers! xoxoxo