I'm working up a new letter to send to Congress. Please take a look at the draft and offer up suggestions. Once done, it will be at http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...11&type=CO. If you like the letter as-is (or if you edit it yourself and wish to send it), go to the PPA letter site at that link I just posted and cut-and-paste the text you wish to send. It will go right to your Congressman, formatted just as if you wrote it yourself. And, it takes just 60 seconds!

Thanks!

P.S. When you send the letter, please reply with "sent" to encourage everyone, of course.

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As a constituent, voter, and poker player, I am writing to tell you that I am outraged by the seizure of poker players’ funds by the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. I am not aware of any federal law that restricts my right to play poker online, and I believe my fellow poker players were unfairly and improperly targeted in this action.

For many years, the Justice Department has attempted to enforce its very broad interpretation of the Wire Act (18 USC §1084), a bill first passed in 1948 and revised in 1961. The Wire Act was passed to control the transmission of sports bets and sports betting information, not to stop Americans from playing online gaming of any type, including poker. This was affirmed in the US Fifth Circuit Court’s landmark 2002 ruling affirming that the Wire Act pertains only to sports betting [see re In MasterCard]. Unfortunately, the Justice Department continues to stand by its interpretation of the Wire Act.

To address this issue, I ask that you co-sponsor and support H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. I also ask that you support legislation that clearly exempts games of skill like poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) and the Wire Act.

H.R. 2267 provides for sensible regulation of Internet gaming and puts the U.S. in charge of safeguarding its citizens. H.R. 2267 mandates rigorous safeguards against underage participation and protections for those with excessive gaming habits while providing consumer protections for the millions of Americans who play online poker every day. This bill will also allow American gaming companies to participate in the world's Internet gaming market, bringing needed jobs to America. Internet censorship and an unenforceable, unpopular prohibition provide none of these benefits. All censorship and prohibition can do is drive players underground or overseas while limiting my personal freedom.

Separately, something must be done to clarify the UIGEA. Our nation's financial institutions have repeatedly warned that UIGEA is overly broad, and that the lack of definition in the law could result in the disruption of lawful financial transactions. Indeed, with regulators, legislators and financial institutions all warning that UIGEA is unenforceable, and with the need for banks to focus on our economic recovery, it is unthinkable that some in Congress would want to continue this misguided approach. Banks must fully comply with this burdensome law by December 1, 2009. Please act immediately to reform the UIGEA and exempt peer-to-peer games of skill like poker from its enforcement.

Poker is a proud American tradition and our nation's citizens have enjoyed poker for more than 150 years. It is an honorable game that I am proud to play. The simple fact that I choose to play it on the Internet does not make it unlawful.

What's most important to me is your support for my rights. Please respond to this letter and let me know you will support my freedoms. I will be watching your actions on this issue closely. I hope that I, along with my over one million fellow Poker Players Alliance members, can count on your support.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sent, Twittered and updated the number from 24K to 31K. Nice, thanks for making everything so easy to send and fill out.

There are many who don't play poker but who believe strongly in Internet freedom. Let's ask them to pitch in. To do that, simply click the Twitter link below:

Send/Digg: http://digg.com/d1ujyC
6/25 Twitter msg.: Click here to Twitter