"The sky is falling" is a phrase I've seen countless times today. I can tell you that it's not. Massive panic, excessive cashouts, fear mongering and even the biggest site blocking US players. This is the exact same thing we saw in 2006. I've been in the online poker industry for nearly 8 years and we've had a lot of ups and downs. This is just another one of the downs in the neverending cycle.

I'm sure a lot of you are freaking out. I don't blame you. Things look bleak. Things have looked bleak in the past and have worked out. I have no reason at the current time to believe otherwise. The bottom line is we are talking about a multi-billion dollar industry. Multi-billion dollar industries don't go away. Either someone will step in and take the place of these sites or we will see legalization in the US. Now that doesn't mean we won't have a period of no poker in the US. I'm by no means saying that. The fact is we just don't know. Speculation is not going to do anyone any good right now.

My advice to anyone that is marinating in fear right now is to take a step back. Take this weekend to unplug from the computer and the poker industry. It's not likely that much, if anything, is going to change between now and Monday. There is just too much to sort out now and it's going to take some time. Reading countless fear mongering posts on 2p2 will not do you any good. From experience, I know the 2p2 forums will be extremely negative and filled nearly completely with uneducated speculation.

One of the important lessons I've been learning lately is to not worry about things you can't control. This is a prime example.

Even if the worst case scenario comes to fruition (and I truly don't believe that will happen), remember the words of the immortal Bob Marley -
"Why do you look so sad and forsaken? When one door is closed, don't you know another is open?"

Things are going to work out.

Peace be with you,
Andrew