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Show HN: HTML5 Bitcoin Poker website

10 points by volitek ↗ HN
http://playbitpoker.com

Hey, this is my first startup project and I'm pretty excited. I've got to the point where I feel I've got something solid, and I don't know what to do next. I haven't had masses of people using it and testing it with the test-network bitcoins. I have tested it a fair bit with friends and it seems there's no major problems. What should I do? Is this a minimum viable product? Should I try and promote it while it's still in testing, or should I switch over to using real bitcoins before doing that? I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have.

P.S. I had https going with a self signed certificate but the browser warnings were annoying so I turned it off. I'm waiting on a proper certificate, and I'll enable it as soon as I have it.

12 comments

[ 4.8 ms ] story [ 42.2 ms ] thread
dholowiski
Is that legal?
volitek
I don't see why not, it's not real money and hey, everyone else is doing it. I'm going to talk to a lawyer if people start using it.
codemonkeymike
In America it is illegal to make a currency that competes with the USD. Congress will eventually rule that Bitcoins do compete with the USD and then yes it will be illegal.
ethanbond
Yeah, you're considered a money transmitter under FinCEN. There are regulations, look up the memo from FinCEN.
nooron
Hey! I talked to someone at the Bitcoin Conference about something similar, I think at the Hackathon. Was that you?

Props on all your work. Since you've asked, I would say you should wait on using real bitcoins.

volitek
Nah, wasn't me, but thanks!
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
Proleps
Untraceable money and gambling, you're going to be rich!
asselinpaul
link for BitBargain is broken
volitek
Thanks for letting me know, fixed!
codemonkeymike
There are some real issues in handling bitcoins. I worked on a bitcoin exchange that was never finished because of security issues and that was a team of 6+.
devonbarrett
I've play around with it and like it, there's a few things which I think you could improve, if you want to email me and chat, my email is in my profile.