<H1>PPA Responds to Government Actions</H1> Warns Players that the Fight Is Not Yet Over

Michael Bolcerek, the president of the Poker Players Alliance, the non-profit organization that is trying to convince lawmakers that poker is a game of skill and should not be considered a form of gambling, issued this statement after recent actions by Congress:

As you may already know, the U.S. Congress approved an online poker prohibition late Friday evening. The ban was snuck into the Port Security Act during a back room deal and following extensive political strong-arming by the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and the Speaker of the House, J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL). This tactic discouraged debate on the bill and allowed it to pass without any public discussion. Why a poker ban was included in the Port Security Act is beyond me and most poker players and should be of concern to every American. It was a "bad beat" but we are still at the table.

This is no time to panic, but rather we must learn and build from this loss. The Poker Players Alliance is not leaving the fight, although now it is going to take an even greater effort from poker players and our organization to achieve our objectives.

What do we want to do now?

Poker Exemption

We continue to demand that poker receive separate treatment from other forms of gaming. It is a game of skill, where performance is merited, and a community game, where the house is not your competition. These are real and significant differences. Our desire is to achieve the same type of exemption from legislation that other interests have received (Horseracing, Lotteries, and Fantasy Sports). We will continue to push forward to obtain this separate treatment when Congress comes back from the elections and into the next legislative session. Between now and when the new bill becomes effective (3 to 6 months) poker has an opportunity to achieve the same exemption. This is our most immediate short-term goal.

License, Regulate and Tax

Regulation is the best public policy solution for both the federal government and the American poker player. Prohibition of on-line poker will only drive the game underground and build distrust and misunderstanding amongst the 70 million Americans who enjoy the great game of poker. I spent the better part of the year engaging members of the House and Senate about the idea of regulating Internet poker. This has raised interest from both Democrats and Republican's alike. There has even been legislation introduced that seeks to establish a Congressional commission that would examine the best way to regulate this industry. Early this summer the PPA commissioned an economic analysis of the potential tax revenue that could be raised through regulation. Members of Congress have been receptive to this study and the $3.3 Billion that could be raised annually for the federal government. This is our ultimate goal and the PPA will drive this agenda.

What should you do know? First, every member of the PPA should be registered to vote in the upcoming state and federal elections. If you are not yet registered there is still time, click here to find out about how to register in your state.

Second, be sure to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7th. We must put our vote where our voice is and establish a poker voting block. While the Port Security Act which included the prohibition legislation was passed near unanimously in both the House and the Senate, the House did have a clean vote on the poker prohibition in July. A list of how House members voted in July is available on our Web site too.

Finally, the PPA needs your help to spread the word about our organization. Please tell at least nine friends who might not know about the Poker Players Alliance to join the fight. We need to be 1 Million strong going into 2007. Very soon a brief analysis of the Internet Gambling Prohibition Amendment will be posted on our website. Please return to www.pokerplayersalliance.org soon so you can learn how this legislation will affect you.

Again, I want to thank you for your support, and hope that you will continue that support as the Poker Players Alliance enters the next level of commitment.

This is not over.

Matt is talking about taxing the poker sites which currently are not being taxed, not the individuals who play. We are always responsible for reporting any type of income we receiveand are suppose to be paying income tax.

PPA is a joke, they way out of their league.

They were completely blindsided by the US Congress, and looked stupid.

I want nothing to do with them. If I had sent them even one penny I would be demanding a full accounting of their finances.

Give me a real organization with some real ability to lobby and use public pressure.

PPA = joke.

GL,
Steve

problem is, unless every online player donated 10% of their bankroll, PPA couldnt dream of competing with (Harrahs) legal team

Bullseye Gelvin couldnt have said it better

I agree here. While its clear the PPA was fairly outclassed in this battle, they are an organized entity. Really, the main concern is why the sites with bucketloads of cash have failed to put a significant amount into any lobbying firm.

Now, of course we don't know whether they did or didn't, but it doesn't look like they had any real champions on capitol hill. Last year for instance, Abramoff got the bill squashed not by winning the most votes, but by working the process such that the bill needed to get a super majority. As a lobbyist, he had the contacts and power to get access to the right people.

In the end, that is what money buys; access. If the sites wanted to figure out a way to ensure the bill didn't come to a vote, it needed to have lobbyists deep inside the process. I may be incorrect, but I don't believe the PPA has that kind of clout.

In any case, they are still an organization providing representation so they should still be supported. The legislative side of this is likely over for now. What comes next is challenging the written law and that happens in the courts