PPA, Commerce Casino Spar Over Internet Gambling Legislation
In recent weeks, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying voice for poker players in the United States, and a coalition that includes the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles have been at odds over internet gambling legislation. Proposed by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, was marked up in the House Financial Services Committee in July and stands at 70 co-sponsors. Whether it will muster up enough momentum to become law before the legislative session expires remains to be seen.
The Commerce Casino, Bicycle Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, Hollywood Park, and California Gaming Association, among other entities in California, have joined forces to oppose HR 2267. It’s not that the group despises internet gambling, according to coalition spokesperson Waltona Manion. Instead, Manion told PocketFives.com, “They support the legalization of online poker. They were seeking amendments to the Frank bill to correct a couple of problems.” Commerce Casino co-owner and Board member Tom Malkasian (pictured) spoke out against HR 2267 in a July Financial Services Committee hearing.
What about the bill, even following the addition of a dozen amendments, concerns the California casino coalition? Manion revealed, “We’d support the bill if U.S. casinos are required to license all of their employees and have their software and hardware inspected, tested, and certified – none of which is required in the Frank bill. There are no requirements for licensing and certification of software, games, and equipment to protect consumers and ensure gaming integrity.”
The PPA struck back by launching PlayersBeforeProfits.com, an online petition to encourage the Commerce Casino and its allies to change their stance on HR 2267. At the time of writing, the petition stood at 7,300 signatures, including those belonging to high-profile players like Full Tiltpro Phil Ivey, DoylesRoomfront man Doyle Brunson, and reigning World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe jcada99 Cada (pictured).
There has even been talk of a boycott of the Commerce and other casinos that stand in the way of HR 2267 becoming law in its amended form. Manion discussed the possibility of a formal player boycott: “I think we’re concerned that the average player has been mislead. We’re seeking to clarify their understanding on what the Commerce and the other card rooms are seeking. They’re in support of the legalization of online poker, but they would like to see the Frank bill amended to address licensing issues, limit it to poker, and ensure that states can regulate what happens within their own borders.”
PPA Executive Director John Pappas speculated as to why the Commerce and other casinos wouldn’t jump onboard the HR 2267 bandwagon in an interview with PokerNewsDaily.com: “They don’t want to compete with existing online operators or Harrah’s or Wynn or Google or anyone else who may get involved in internet gambling. They prefer to have their own fiefdom in California… A lot of lawmakers went out of their way to address their concerns via amendments, yet they still continue to oppose the bill.”
Amendments to HR 2267 include not allowing existing sites servicing the U.S. market to apply for licenses, not allowing online wagering on sports, and ensuring that deposits would occur with debit cards only. Its tax companion bill, Congressman Jim McDermott‘s (D-WA, pictured) HR 4976, directs a percentage of revenues to state and tribal causes. In addition, HR 2267 prescribes that any state or tribe can opt out of the bill within one legislative session of it becoming law.
Overall, the coalition has put California first. Manion remarked, “The Commerce and the other casinos believe that instead of sending online poker revenue offshore, many states should benefit from putting online poker revenue to work in solving their own problems.” California could be among the first states in the U.S. to authorize intrastate internet gambling. However, a bill to do so proposed by California State Senator Rod Wright fell by the wayside in early July.
HR 2267 was rubber stamped by the Financial Services Committee on July 28th by a 41:22 margin. Now, it awaits its time on the House floor. Alternately, the bill could be attached to a must-pass piece of legislation at the end of the current legislative session and act as a pay-for. We’ll keep you posted right here on PocketFives.com.
