In-Person Deposits in California – an Outlook

14:30
20 Dec

Although the new online poker bill that should be passed in California is not in sync with the plans of major players on several fronts, there is one particular part that’s been discussed at some length recently. Namely, one of the provisions of the Bill requires in-person registration and the first deposit, which many see as an unnecessary hassle.

The name behind the proposed Bill is that of Mike Gatto and he actually took some time to write up an opinion piece, explaining why he believes this process is both needed and positive for all the parties involved.

The idea is that any validated gambling establishment could serve as an initial validator, as long as an interested party presents them with two forms of identification. This should help with the process, as even the casinos not operating a poker web site could process the request. While the initial deposit will have to be done in person, all subsequent deposits can be done online. Cashouts should also adhere to similar rules, as once these are above a certain amount or become too frequent, they will have to be done in person.

Mr. Gatto explains that this system will help disarm the online poker opponents on several issues that keep getting thrown into the mix. For one, minors will not be able to get their hands on an online account and their access to the online poker will be severely limited through this measure.

If a gambler had just completed an elaborate cheat, would he want to show up in person and present himself to a security professional to collect his winnings? Mike Gatto, www.utsandiego.com;
Further, it should help prevent or seriously hinder any money laundering and cheating activities. Cheaters and such should be greatly discouraged by the fact that they will have to be physically present to collect bigger amounts of money, which removes the anonymity element out of the game. If found cheating, persons involved will be easy to track.
By allowing smaller casinos to serve as the first link in the chain, Gatto hopes to help the establishments that are too small to operate their own site benefit from the online poker as well. In addition to directly profiting from those registering, it should also increase their foot traffic.
While Mr. Gatto’s heart might well be in the right place here, overall situation with online poker in the States is not too bright as it is. People are not actually flocking to play on the state-only sites and the industry has been posting losses for some time now.
Throw some additional hassle in the mix, and you might have just signed a death-warrant for online poker before it’s even had a chance to take off. One of the major attractions of playing online is the fact that you can easily access the games any time of day or night, but also the idea that moving money is easy.
Many of those wanting to play could be deterred by the fact that they have to show up in person in a casino and provide their information there. Poker is still widely regarded as gambling and I can imagine that the idea of people walking into the casino to officially confirm they are gamblers might be somewhat unappealing.
While online sites also regularly require you to provide a proof of your identity, it is much different if you can snap a photo of your ID and send it to via mail. Actually walking into the casino and having to explain you want to gamble online could just be a tipping point for many.
This is not to say that the positive things mentioned above are not valid, but the question is always that of balance. Will this procedure bring more good than harm, or will it be the other way around? It is almost certain that it will significantly lower the online numbers, especially at the outset until people get more comfortable with the idea.
Will the numbers be big enough even without those who are deterred by the procedure? Time will tell, but if this is the only way the online poker in California gets regulated, then so be it. It is better to have it this way than no way at all.
The only real fear is if it will make for a viable business model and at this point we can all just hope for the best. If changes in practices are needed later, they will be easier to implement once online poker is actually in existence, so that’s one thing to consider as well.

Did you like this article?