Click here for the PocketFives Podcast Interview with Alfonse D’Amato

In its quest to bring about justice for the online poker world, which
was wronged upon the last minute passage of the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act, the Poker Players Alliance has acquired the
ultimate ace in the hole: A Washington insider and three-time
Republican Senator from New York, Alfonse D’Amato. Recently named
Chairman of the Board of the PPA, D’Amato brings an experienced,
hard-nosed edge to the organization, helping the major online poker
proponent in its mission to call for regulation, rather than
prohibition, of online poker. The former Senator will appear on the
PocketFives.com Podcast on Thursday, March 29, 2007 to discuss his
motivation for becoming involved with the PPA.

D’Amato summarizes his view of the UIGEA, which was attached to the
Safe Port Act, last October: “As individuals, we like to make our own
choices. One of the great things about being a U.S. citizen and living
in this great democracy is that we have the right to make our own
choices, particularly in our own homes. Why should wagering on poker be
forbidden when it certainly involves the same skill level as betting on
the lottery or picking a horse [both of which have carve outs under the
Wire Act?] Why should Congress deprive people of the opportunity to
participate in a game they enjoy using modern technology? It’s
outrageous that the U.S. Congress is making its moral judgment on a
game that does not threaten anyone.”

Regulation of the industry is a key component of the PPA’s stance:
“There is a far better way to deal with some of the concerns
legislators have regarding gambling and that is to regulate online
poker. What we’ve done is force legitimate operators out of business
and deprived people of the opportunity to see that online poker is a
fair game by regulating it. It’s also going to cost taxpayers a
tremendous amount of revenue to curtail this.”

As the main lobbying organization for online poker, the PPA has
reiterated its desire to reach one million members and become a true
lobbying force. D’Amato explains: “If people care about their rights,
they have to band together. That’s what we’re attempting to do. We’ve
set a goal to grow the membership of the PPA to one million people.
We’re trying to form and galvanize an activist community that lets our
members of Congress know that we think there is a better way to deal
with some of the problems they are concerned with.” After all, it will
be difficult for Congress to ignore the voices of one million of its
constituents.

The PPA’s focus has been to enact a carve out for online poker: “To
bring about a total revocation of the UIGEA will be much more difficult
than getting a carve out. I believe that, as we approach various
members of Congress, we’ll be able to make a case and have online poker
available to people without it being stigmatized as being unlawful.”
Moreover, “It’s a game that brings excitement and entertainment and
there’s a skill level to it. Substantial revenues can be raised without
even having to tax it. Don’t make this illegal, driving people
underground and offshore in order to escape regulation. It could
generate $3 billion easily that could be used for great causes.”

Perhaps the most important lesson that can be learned by those wanting
to make a difference in the world of online poker is to let their
voices be heard: “Write to your Congressmen and tell them that you’re a
registered voter, that you’ve joined the PPA, and then ask why Congress
would ban your right to participate in a game that many of their
colleagues participate in. One of the things we want to do is grow this
organization and then get members to contact their representatives to
say that we don’t think it’s fair that our rights have been taken away.”

Membership to the PPA is completely free (unless, of course, you’d like
to make a donation, in which case various membership levels are
available). Just visit www.theppa.org to get involved.
“This is the time to join and have your voice be heard. Show them that
the little guy, each one of us, if we join together, can be a powerful
force. Let’s use the Internet to communicate with our members of
Congress as voters and as American citizens to say that we feel they’ve
gone too far in this attempt to ban us from a sport that we have a
right to participate in.”

The PocketFives.com Podcast featuring Alfonse D’Amato will be released
on Thursday, March 29, 2007. Thank you to the Poker Players Alliance
for coordinating this interview and to D’Amato for taking time out of
his extremely hectic schedule to reach out to the PocketFives.com
community.

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Author Contact Info: Dan Cypra, PocketFives