We’re four months into 2014, a year that has been a mixed bag on the legislative front. While a bill proposed by Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) would lay the groundwork for regulated online poker in the US, bills from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) would ban the game, including the legal markets in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. However, there has been little to no movement on any bill thus far.

PocketFives sat down with Poker Players AllianceExecutive Director John Pappas (pictured) to get caught up on the state of online poker in the US and talk about whether we should be avoiding the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas like the Plague this year.

PocketFives: Thank you for joining us. Can you give us an update on the pro-internet gambling legislation in Congress from Representative Barton?

John Pappas: We had a hearing about internet gambling last December, but there hasn’t been much movement since then. Our position has been somewhat playing defense against the new Federal bills. We support, and will continue to support, Barton’s legislation, but recognize that Congress getting something done this year is unlikely. We have been focusing on the states with the US Congress as divided as it has been.

PocketFives: How about an update on the anti-internet gambling legislation from Representative Chaffetz and Senator Graham?

John Pappas: I’ve spent a lot of time over the last two weeks speaking with just about every member of the House Judiciary Committee. It’s an educational process for a lot of these members. There are a lot of new members since the early 2000s when these debates were originally happening. We’re telling them there are a number of reasons why the Chaffetz bill is bad public policy. First, it’s a states’ rights issue. It’s an issue of personal freedom. If we turn back the clock, we’d open the door to a black market without any accountability to players.

PocketFives: Is there a hearing planned for any of the bills?

John Pappas: I’ve been meeting with the Judiciary Committee staff about the prospects of a hearing and, as of right now, there’s nothing scheduled. The committee has a lot on their plate, so I don’t think this will be a priority for them, but I know there are major forces driving it. We’re not going into meetings talking about compromise. We’re talking about how the bill needs to be stopped in its tracks.

PocketFives: Comment on the impact of the recent decision to remove campaign contribution limits. We know Sheldon Adelson (pictured) has pledged to spend “whatever it takes” to rid the US of internet gambling.

John Pappas: That decision certainly benefits those who are able to make large financial contributions. I’d like to believe the voice of one person and the money of one person will not override the will of the American public.

PocketFives: An online poker bill was introduced in New York last month. You called it a “great first step,” but said it had a long way to go to becoming law. Is that still the case?

John Pappas: I don’t think the bill coming to pass this year is likely. We’ll monitor it and I think it’s a good barometer for 2015. Typically, bills introduced on one side of the aisle also have less of a chance to move. If there were a house companion bill in New York, the legislative side that is typically more conservative, it’d be better. We’re in a good place right now, though.

PocketFives: Should poker players avoid the Venetian and Palazzo (pictured) in Las Vegas? Adelson is the CEO and Chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which owns both properties.

John Pappas: That’s an individual choice. I know a lot of players enjoy playing at those casinos, but they should recognize their owner has taken a stance against them playing in a licensed and regulated industry online.

PocketFives: We’ve heard mixed reviews from the New York and New Jersey regulated US markets, where thousands of accounts have been created, but both states have seemed to fall short of expectations. What’s your take?

John Pappas: It’s still very early to judge. In Nevada, we’ve known it would be a struggle because of the low population. They’re moving in the right direction, though, with the compact with Delaware becoming imminent. In New Jersey, we have a situation where there are a number of factors that are weighing the system down like geo-location problems. We’re going to see New Jersey continuing to expand, though. Poker is also just one offering in New Jersey, so I think they can have a lot of success.

PocketFives: What plans does the PPA have for the 2014 election? The organization has distributed election guides and educated members on lawmakers’ stances on poker in years past.

John Pappas: We will be providing that information to our members directly through our PAC and other channels. We haven’t created an election guide this year yet. We already know there are about 16 lawmakers who have supported the current Chaffetz/Graham legislation who would be on our target list.

Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest poker legislation news.

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