Poker Players Alliance

Infobox_Company
company_type = Non-Profit
company_
company_name = Poker Players Alliance
foundation = 2005
location = Washington, DC
key_people = Executive Director John Pappas
Chairman Alfonse D'Amato
Boardmember Linda Johnson
Boardmember Greg Dinkin
Boardmember Jan Fisher
Boardmember Allyn Shulman
Boardmember Chris Ferguson
Boardmember Mary Magazine
Boardmember Rich Muny
Boardmember Greg Raymer
Boardmember Howard Lederer cite web|url=http://pokerplayersalliance.org/about/board/ |title=Board of Directors |accessdate=2008-07-22 |work=Poker Players Alliance |publisher=pokerplayersalliance.org ]
industry = Political Advocacy
Revenue = 1.2 million (2005)
homepage = www.pokerplayersalliance.org

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is an American nonprofit Interest group formed to "to speak with one voice to promote poker, and to protect the players' rights." [ [http://pokerplayersalliance.org/aboutus.php Poker Players Alliance AboutUs] ] The PPA formed to serve as an advocacy group to Washington to establish rights and protections for U.S. poker players. Within the first year of its existence, the PPA garnered over 600,000 members.Polson, Sarah. [http://www.pokerlistings.com/ppa-issues-letter-of-support-from-players PPA issues letter of support from players] PokerListings.com November 7, 2006 accessed 7/9/07] Email "A message from Alfonse D'Amato" to PPA members 7/19/07] In April 2008, the PPA claimed to have signed up its one millionth member. [ [http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org Poker Players Alliance] ] Membership growth has been due in part to promotional activities by online poker cardrooms like Party Poker. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053102054.html WashingtonPost.com: Poker Players Lose a Round on Capitol Hill] ]

This organization unsuccessfully lobbied against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/24/AR2006052402432.html WashingtonPost.com: Bill to Ban Gambling Online Gets 4th Chance] ] which prohibited financial institutions from making payments to internet gambling sites. [http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/questionandanswer.pdf House of Representative Questions and Answers] ] Many online poker sites suspended U.S. operations. Other sites have continued to serve U.S. customers, citing legal opinions that UIGEA does not apply to poker. [ [http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/3316/pokerstars-will-keep-serving-american-customers Cardplayer.com: PokerStars Will Keep Serving American Customers] ]

Advocacy

The PPA aims to get laws such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 overturned either through political or judicial means. [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/322849_poker07.html Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Lawyer raises stakes against state's Internet poker ban] 7/7/07 Accessed 7/9/07] For example, the PPA in conjunction with online poker sites, dedicated June 15, 2006 as "Write Your Congressmen Day." [ [http://www.prweb.com/releases/poker/legislation/prweb400267.htm PocketFives and Poker Players Alliance Write Your Congressmen Day: A Grassroots Campaign Success] June 20, 2006. Accessed 7/9/07] Another example is the "PPA Fly-In", where around 100 members and many professional poker players, including Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson, flew to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress for poker rights. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/poker/2007-10-22-lobby_N.htm USAToday.com: Poker lobby plays its hand as 'game of skill'] ]

The PPA supports several bills currently in Congress that amend UIGEA. The Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610), proposed by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), provides an exemption to UIGEA for games of skill, including poker, mah jong, bridge, and other games. As of December 15, 2007, HR 2610 has 20 cosponsors. [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02610:@@@P Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2046), proposed by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), provides for federal licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. As of December 15, this bill has 45 cosponsors. [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02046:@@@P Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] . The Internet Gambling Study Act (H.R. 2140), proposed by Rep. Shelly Berkley (D-NV), provides for a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of Internet gambling. As of December 15, this bill has 68 cosponsors. [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02140:@@@P Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] .

The PPA hired former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato as its chairman. In an interview with Cardplayer Magazine, he said "What really needs to happen is to have a legitimate house, a fair game, and a fair operator, and not take away from 20-plus-million citizens who play poker the opportunity to play poker on the Internet." [http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/16635 Can Alfonse D'Amato Save Poker? Former New York Senator Joins the Poker Players Alliance] ] D'Amato went on to point out that under the current legislation, that the companies "with good business practices" could potentially be replaced by "those who do not care" because the U.S. is driving "the industry offshore, where we have no regulation and no controls."

Michael Bolcerek, the former president of the PPA, says that the PPA has been able to mount a counteroffensive to the anti-gaming bills on Capitol Hill. He says the opponents of online-gambling

"Opponents of online gambling fail to realize that sweeping it under the rug will only serve to exacerbate any issues with problem gambling. Turning the wildly popular Internet poker from a common pastime to an illegal activity, banned by Congress, will ultimately ensure that problem gamblers do not confront their issues with gambling and drive them further underground. Regulation and taxation, however, would provide billions in revenue for federal and state governments. These funds could be used to treat problem gamblers and to educate adults and youths alike on the dangers of gambling addictions."Burton, Earl. [http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/poker-players-alliance-washington.htm Poker Players Alliance Leads Poker's Cause In Washington] May 27, 2006. PokerNews.com Accessed 7/9/07]

Bolcerek has appeared on over 60 local stations, CNN, CNBC, and Fox to get get his message out. [ [http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/3363 Poker Players Alliance Has Been Everywhere] Oct 23, 2006. Accessed 7/9/07]

In April 2007, Rep Barney Frank (D-Mass) introduced a bill (the aforementioned HR 2046) that wouldn't simply repeal the 2006 bill, but would open up a U.S. based market for online gambling. The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 "would establish a regulatory and enforcement framework to license companies to accept bets and wagers online from individuals in the U.S." The act would address underage and compulsive gambling, while providing safeguards for Americans. Legalizing these transactions would enable the government to tax and monitor fund transfers. This would allow transactions to be checked "against a number of anti-fraud, money laundering and terrorism databases".

In August 2007, the organization announced Michael Bolcerek had stepped down as President. John Pappas filled the role vacated by Bolcerek.

References

External links

* [http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org Official site]

Pending legislation

* [http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/21frank_004_xml_%282%29.pdf H.R. 2046 Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2610 H.R. 2610, Skill Game Protection Act]
* [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2140: H.R. 2140 Internet Gambling Study Bill]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-2607 H.R. 2607, Internet Gambling Tax Act]