In many ways, Black Friday was the start of a Great Depression for the US online poker community.  Most regulars were left with a bulk of their net worth stuck online.  Stars regs eventually got their money back, but FT regs are still in limbo.  Many poker regs were also left unemployed.  A few found ways around the system.  A few more found smaller sites to play on.  But most are still struggling.

So in these hard economic times, I think it's extremely important that we online poker regs try and help each other.  The few cynical people out there may be saying, "well, why should I help someone who is effectively my competitor?  Die regs!  Die!"  If that's your attitude, then yeah - maybe not helping a fellow reg could mean you're profitable for the next 16 months instead of 14.  But if you suck, you suck.  Time's eventually going to catch up with you.

I think it is more important to think of the bigger picture.  At the end of the day, we are all a community.  We probably see each other at live tournaments and at the local casinos, and entertain each other in the forums.  This is a great opportunity to help your fellow man, and maybe make a friend on top of it.  A good friend could last longer than your poker career.  There are many issues facing online poker players today, and with a little teamwork, I think we can persevere.

The current online poker problem I had in mind was the situation with Merge network cashouts.  Currently, it's taking 4+ weeks for check cashouts since the ewallets got raided last week.  I've had a check cashout pending for 17 days now.  But each of the last two days, I've gotten an email from support saying they are processing the withdrawal as soon as possible.  I'm guessing they send me this email every day for the next week or so before I get approved, and then it takes another week or so to get the check.  Or maybe they are just stalling.  I suppose an email is better than nothing.

But here's what I was thinking...  It seems that international players can get cashouts right away (within a day).  So if you are an international player on Merge (and there are are few of you I know), why not help your fellow poker player and make a little money on the side?  Online poker players transfer funds to each other all the time.  Obviously, don't handle too many, lest you look like a money launderer.  But I can't imagine anyone's going to care if you're going to exchange money with a few 2+2 friends.  The going rate seems to be an 8% vig - and that seems reasonable to me.  That seems like a really good return for a low risk proposition.  And like I said, you may make a friend.

It's probably not a good idea to advertise on 2+2 - you never know who's reading.  Eh hem.  If any reasonably well-known 2+2 international regs (or US players liking the risk/reward, or US players that need to reload on Merge) are interested, send me an email: doubleflypoker@gmail.com.  If you are a super-well-known and well-liked 2+2 (SS or MS) reg who wants to pay an 8% vig (plus fees), send me an email too.  Let me know which skin and I'll match you guys up - all I'm doing is matching.  You guys determine if you trust each other to go through with it and the details (like forms of payment, etc).  Obviously, I'm going to give preferential treatment to reputable posters (on both sides of the transaction), so you need to give me your 2+2 name.  Sorry, but if I don't know you reasonably well from any of the reg's threads, it's unlikely that I can help you.  This way, a lot of the counterparty risk is reduced.

If you are a reg but never was involved in 2+2.  What can I say?  Sometimes it pays to be part of a community.  I'm getting nothing out of this, but I do think some leadership and organization is necessary, as people seem confused and worried.  FWIW, I'm not too concerned about the Merge situation, but clearly the situation looks a worse this week than it did last.

Also, I don't need to take money off of Merge.  Why?  (later post)  But I *may* be in a position to help a couple of people in a month or so.  *IF* I get that going, I'll start with people who signed up thru my rakeback site, since I feel like I have on obligation to those people first.  But I did tell you not to put a lot on, right?