A man plays poker on an Internet gaming site. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
by Gabrielle Russon
In a room full of suit-wearing, tailored-looking politicians on Capitol Hill, Barry Greenstein stood out, wearing a sweater decorated in bright rectangles. He may not have exactly looked the part, but Greenstein is a professional poker player, winning $5 million in the last four years at tournaments in such far-away places as Vienna and Barcelona.
This week, Greenstein met with legislators during the Poker Players Alliance’s “fly-in” to lobby against a law that tightens federal restrictions for online gambling. According to the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, banks must monitor and stop their customers’cash transfers to unlawful online gaming sites.
“The Internet gives people an easier way to play,” said Greenstein, who plays in online poker tournaments once or twice a week. “They don’t have to get six or seven buddies to come over to their house. They can play with people, not only from around the country, but around the world. You sit down at the poker table on the Internet, you’re playing with someone who lives in Lebanon or somewhere else…It’s really an international game.”
Greenstein’s poker playing days began in Chicago during elementary school when a classmate invited him over to play. “We played for quarters,” he said. “By the time I was in high school, maybe we played for dollars, and by the time I was in college, we played for tens of dollars. It went up.”
After Greenstein graduated from the University of Illinois, he considered becoming a math professor. But, he was able to make more money playing poker. Now each year, he plays in 50 tournaments. Greenstein said he has given $3 million from his winnings to charity.
He looks at the game the same way a salesman sees commission. The more he wins, the more flexible his schedule is.
“Poker itself I don’t necessarily love,” Greenstein said. “It’s my job, it’s a good job. That’s how I support my family.”
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
The bill is sponsored by the "Morals Czar",Bill Bennett.
Posted by: Raving Loon | October 25, 2007 1:41 PM
Wow, one positive story. Compare to the thousands of lives and families destroyed by gambling. All forms of gambling should be illegal.
Posted by: Dr. J.M. Dickenson | October 25, 2007 1:43 PM
There is no reason that internet gambling should be banned while brick & mortar casinos proliferate and states become addicted to their revenue.
George Will posited that the states wanted internet gambling banned to maintain their monopoly over legalized gaming. Considering that this was the only "progress" the GOP was able to make in the "culture wars" (as if red staters don't gamble, puleaze), I'd say "values voters" have been bamboozled.
Victimless "crimes" such as gambling, prostitution, sodomy and marijuana should be legalized.
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | October 25, 2007 2:14 PM
P.S. This is the ONE instance where the GOP works against the interests of a large and profitable business? Sheesh.
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | October 25, 2007 2:14 PM
Hey Dr. J.M. Dickenson stay out my life. People who have addictions are going to play anyway. So we should stop everyone because of a small few who have no control.
Posted by: Dr. Stay out of my life | October 25, 2007 2:15 PM
I love it when "free market" Republics try to tell me what I can and cannot spend MY money on. They are all for free markets except when it involves nudity, gambling, alcohol and drugs.
Posted by: jethro | October 25, 2007 2:20 PM
I hear "Moral Values" czar Bill Bennett would be in favor of this and David Vitter would like to add a bill legalizing prostitution.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50229312@N00/773500664/
Posted by: Ann Coulter's adam's apple | October 25, 2007 2:24 PM
Acts targeting gambling annoy me. First, I think it is rank hypocrisy, in that if it is immoral to gamble, then it should be illegal everywhere, not just in cyberspace, where, coincidentally, no taxes are collected. If gambling is immoral, then shut down every casino, riverboat, bingo parlor, and horse/dog track. While you are at it, outlaw state lotteries. Either all of it is immoral or none of it is. Secondly, why do we have to function at the lowest common denominator? I know some people can't control their gambling, just like some people can't control their liquor. However, I like to think that the majority of adults in this country are responsible enough to handle their business. They should be able to play a few hands of poker with their discretionary income if that is their thing, without big brother telling them it is immoral or illegal.
Posted by: Herbie H. | October 25, 2007 2:58 PM
Wow, one positive story. Compare to the thousands of lives and families destroyed by gambling. All forms of gambling should be illegal.
Posted by: Dr. J.M. Dickenson | October 25, 2007 1:43 PM
If they were really doing this for purposes of morality, the first thing outlawed would be state lotteries. Lottery is the most insipid form of gambling, 100% dumb luck, overwhelmingly taking advantage of the poor, and with the odds massively stacked in favor of the house.
I wonder why they don't outlaw lotteries... Hmmmmmmmmmm...
The only reason the government is going after internet gambling is because it's having a tough time taxing it. Any other reason they give is a blatant lie unless they first outlaw lotteries and casinos.
Posted by: davidk | October 25, 2007 3:10 PM
Dr Dick is an idiot to think that all forms of gambling should be outlawed. Gambling has been around since the dawn of time.
Take your holier than thou act and shove it. It's MY money, I earned it, I pay the taxes on it, I can do what I wish with it.
Now STFU and pass a new bill.
Posted by: NotADick | October 25, 2007 6:21 PM
A poker playing lobbyist...."you’re playing with someone who lives in Lebanon or somewhere else…It’s really an international game.”
Should feel right at home in the halls of congress and the White House.
Posted by: DD | October 25, 2007 6:44 PM
Oh Please Dr. Dickensen!
If you own stock, you gamble. If you buy insurance, you gamble.
It is everyone's right to buy stock, hoping that they do so intelligently but no nanny is required to hold their hand.
A rose by any other name applies to "insurance", "stock" and indeed "crossing the street". Personally, I think poker is an excellent game to teach children about proabability and risk.
Get out of my life!
Posted by: Kevin Carroll | October 25, 2007 7:23 PM