In recent days, PokerUpdate and others have brought up the possibility of the Sheldon Adelson-backed Restoration of America’s Wire Act (S 2159, RAWA) adding a carve-out for online poker during the so-called “lame duck” Congressional session in November. PokerUpdate reported on Saturday, “As Chris Grove reported from C5’s US Online Gaming Conference, Bally Tech’s John Connelly stated during a panel discussion, ‘he expects a federal push to make ‘everything other than poker illegal’ this November.'” Adelson is pictured.

PocketFives reached out to Poker Players Alliance(PPA) Executive Director John Pappas, who told us on Monday, “Senator Harry Reid has been very consistent in his support for regulated online poker, even if it is done at the state level, as is the case with his home state of Nevada. So, if there were a prohibition push during the lame duck session, I fully expect that Senator Reid would fight for a poker exemption.”

He warned, “To be clear, as far as I know, Sheldon Adelson, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz have not signaled any interest in a compromise to their bill that protects online poker.”

Graham and Chaffetz are the Republican lawmakers pushing RAWA through Congress. The measure would prohibit online gaming and eliminate the regulated markets in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.

Congress returns to session the week of November 9 and is scheduled to break before Thanksgiving. If needed, the House and Senate could reconvene in December for any last-minute must-pass legislation like a budget bill to replace the one that expires on December 11. As Pappas put it, “There will be quite a few bills and issues on Congress’ plate during the lame duck session, but lawmakers who support RAWA have said they intend to push for their bill.”

When asked if the PPA, which is the main lobbying voice for poker players on Capitol Hill, had reached out to Adelson, Pappas responded, “We have no reason to believe that Sheldon Adelson supports online poker in any form.”

Adelson has become public enemy number one for the online poker community despite speaking in support of regulation as recently as 2001. At the time according to the Las Vegas Sun, Adelson was “pleased that the Nevada Legislature had taken the lead in regulating internet casinos” and added, “Our hat will be in that ring, but I don’t believe the US Congress or the current administration is very anxious to make it happen.” He also wanted to “applaud the gaming authorities on their efforts.”

On Adelson’s flip-flop, Pappas commented to PocketFives, “It’s a well-documented fact Mr. Adelson has previously supported online gaming. In fact, even today, his Las Vegas casino [the Venetian]offers remote gaming to its customers. So, his newfound opposition has left a lot people scratching their heads.”

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