Every good business survives by reaching out to its target audience. You have to market your products to your customers and show them you’re the best around. The Poker Players Alliancewent straight to its audience this past week, the 6,300 participants in the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event, to show the poker world what a class act it has become. Bringing a group of staff that included former three-time Senator from New York and current PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato, the organization hit the ground running at the Rio. It’s paid off recently as well. The Poker Players Alliance has grown to well over 600,000 members, a number that has ballooned rapidly in recent days. Not too bad for an industry group that stood at 100,000 members last fall.

PPA President Michael Bolcerek led the charge in Las Vegas. Through his efforts, he’s managed to bring on board D’Amato and promote his former Public Relations Director, John Pappas, to a governmental role. Bolcerek has become increasingly visible and active within the poker community itself. This year, he brought a current Congressman and author of H.R. 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, Robert Wexler (D-FL) to serve as his wingman. Bolcerek comments, “Wexler has been at the Rio and D'Amato was his host. We wanted to bring him to share his leadership with regards to the Skill Game Protection Act.” On Day 1-D of the WSOP Main Event, Wexler was publicly introduced to the players still in contention. He spoke briefly while play continued and was met with a round of applause. It’s not every day that a standing Congressman visits the Main Event floor. Wexler’s bill, H.R. 2046, was introduced on June 7, 2007, and referred to committee for review. No time table has been set on discussion within committee.

Also on Day 1-D, D’Amato gave the “Shuffle up and deal” command in the Amazon Room. All in all, the PPA received a tremendous amount of exposure and demonstrated to the poker community its desire to get poker players everywhere informed and active. Bolcerek claims, “I hope it energizes the poker community to know that there is a bill that specifically addresses poker as a skill game.” The PPA’s efforts at the WSOP have already paid dividends. In a few hours of me writing and revising this, the PPA gained 7,000 members (that’s not a typo), an incredible rate of expansion.

The popularity and growth of poker fuels the PPA’s efforts. Without a large base to represent, the organization would become nothing more than a blip on a Congressman’s radar. The 2007 WSOP Main Event field declined nearly 30% from last year’s record-setting 8,770 entrants. Bolcerek believes there is cause for concern: “If you compared the field from 2006 to the 2005, there's about a 2,000 person growth in comparison to a 2,000 person loss in 2007. I think that we need to get [online] poker licensed and regulated. I'm concerned. It's a pretty good showing; this year’s field of 6,300 is larger than the field two years ago, but the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act had a direct impact.”

Interestingly enough, this year’s WSOP attracted 54,288 poker players total, making it the largest WSOP field in history. Part of this may be due to the addition of several events in 2007, but the total prize pool capped out at nearly $160 million. A WSOP press release states, “Among the highlights of this year’s World Series of Poker were record turnouts for the Ladies Championship, the Seniors Championship and the $50,000 HORSE Championship. This year also saw the single busiest day in World Series of Poker history, when 3,151 players participated in a $1,500 No-Limit Texas Hold’em Championship on June 30.”

Finally, as well all know, money talks, so the PPA held a private fundraiser for Robert Wexler and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV, pictured at right). The event attracted a number of high-profile guests. Bolcerek talks about the attendees: “It was great to have a number of poker pros there who feel strongly about getting involved and taking a leadership role. There were five WSOP Main Event Bracelet Holders and 41 total bracelet winners. I thought it was a very good showing and was very impressed by how involved these poker players are. They’re anteing up.” Bolcerek stresses that you, too, can donate to these campaigns, but make sure that any money you donate is earmarked for poker: “We need to make sure that poker gets credit for the donations.”

With several bills waiting to enter committee in the United States House of Representatives, all online poker players can do is hold on for the ride. Stay tuned to PocketFives.com for all the latest from around the legislative arena.

Not a member of the PPA? You should be. Sign up at the Poker Players Alliance website.