November 12th, 2009
By Poker Players Alliance
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 House Bill
H.R. 2267 the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, & Enforcement Act of 2009 now has 62 cosponsors and is gaining more support each day. In related good news the Congressional Joint Tax Committee, which has the responsibility of assessing the revenue impact of all U.S. legislation, recently reported that licensing and regulation of Internet gaming would produce up to $41,000,000,000.00 (billion!) in revenue over 10 years. This is not a new tax on players, but revenue that could be generated through regulation of the online industry.
Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) is still committed to holding a hearing and a vote on this bill in his Financial Services Committee. Depending on the schedule this hearing could still happen in 2009.
If your Representative is not already a cosponsor of H.R. 2267 click here to urge their support today.
 Senate Bill
S.1597 the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in August of this year. The legislation establishes the needed licensing and regulatory framework for the United States to protect consumers by exercising appropriate control and oversight over Internet poker and other games of skill. Currently the PPA is working with Senator Menendez who sits on the powerful Senate Finance Committee to add supporters for his bill and raise the profile of our issue in the Senate.
Please help Senator Menendez and the PPA by sending your Senators an email asking that they support S. 1597, click here.
 UIGEA Delay Petition
On September 16th the Poker Players Alliance along with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the American Greyhound Track Owners Association sent a petition to the US Treasury and Federal Reserve seeking a one year delay of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) regulatory compliance date. The regulations are currently set for compliance on Dec. 1, 2009, the PPA’s delay would push that till Dec. 1, 2010.
Click here to see a copy of the PPA/NTRA/AGTOA petition
Click here to see PPA Executive Director John Pappas discuss the upcoming deadline.
Our petition is getting significant support. More than 50 members of Congress have expressed their support for the delay and several leading banks and financial services trade associations have also expressed serious reservations about the impending compliance date. We are hopeful that Treasury and the Fed will delay the ill-conceived UIGEA and we can spend the next year clarifying this ambiguous law.
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Win a Custom Poker Table for the Holidays
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Join the PPA as a Premium Member Today and get a chance to win a high-quality custom poker table featuring your design from BBO Poker Tables!
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 Massachusetts
On Tuesday October 29th, 2009, Randall Castonguay, Massachusetts director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on the need for licensing and regulation of online poker in the Commonwealth.
Castonguay testified on behalf of more than 25,000 Massachusetts PPA members that any comprehensive gambling expansion should include regulation of online poker. As the head of PPA’s efforts in Massachusetts Castonguay stated, “I have the obligation of not only protecting poker players’ rights, but advancing them.” He described lawmakers’ attempts to criminalize online poker in expanded gambling legislation introduced last session as “blatant hypocrisy.” He noted that such language has been struck from current proposals and outlined the benefits of why criminalization language should not be reintroduced.
[To read Castonguay's testimony click here.]
 California
This summer the heat for Intra-State Internet poker rose to new levels, but it looks like movement this year has sizzled out. With the state’s economic condition worsening, however, it is likely that in the New Year state lawmakers will again review legislation to license and regulate Intra-State Internet poker in California.
In general, the PPA supports state efforts to license Internet poker; however, we are very concerned that the narrowly crafted Intra-State model receiving the most attention will be harmful to Internet players in California. A system that is limited to one or even two operators that are allowed to provide games to CA residents would be a step backwards from the online poker residents enjoy today. Limiting marketplace competition for poker will unnecessarily undermine the player experience by eliminating the incentive for Websites to offer bonuses, rake-back, and other player benefits.
The PPA intends to fully participate in the California debate on regulation of internet poker to make sure the player’s interests are represented.
Florida
As you may know Florida is also exploring the idea of Intra-State Internet poker. On December 1, the results of a legislatively mandated study are due which may make recommendations as to how online poker could potentially be regulated by the State of Florida. We look forward to this study and will post it on our website once it is made publically available. We remain committed that, if regulation is to take place in Florida, it must ensure competition and not monopolies. Rest assured, the Poker Players Alliance will have a seat at the table during legislative discussions and negotiations, protecting Florida player’s rights.
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Visit the PPA member forums, get the latest in poker news, communicate with your fellow members and share ideas on how to protect the game.
Click here |
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 Kentucky Supreme Court Hearing
On Thursday October 22, 2009 the Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Commonwealth’s appeal as part of its ongoing efforts to seize the domain names of 141 internet gaming sites, including several of the leading online poker sites. The right of Kentucky poker player’s was upheld earlier this year when the Kentucky Court of Appeals rejected the Commonwealth’s argument in favor of seizure. The Commonwealth has pursued the case to the state’s highest court.
[click here to go to view video footage of the Supreme Court oral arguments and the PPA press release]
 South Carolina Judge Declares Poker a Game of Skill, Not Chance
In February 2009 a South Carolina judge ruled that poker is a game of skill, but he left it to a higher court to decide if state gambling laws were overly vague. October 2, 2009, a higher court agreed and reversed the convictions of five individuals who had been convicted of illegal gambling in 2006. In addition to holding the law was overly broad and vague; the court embraced the use of the predominance test, citing the overwhelming evidence that skill dominates chance.
[click here to read the court's opinion and the PPA press release]
But the fight is not over in SC. Just last week, the state Attorney General filed for appeal at the state Supreme Court. The PPA looks forward to our continued successful defense of players rights, even in front of the state’s highest court.
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Special PPA Offers from Phil Hellmuth
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Join the PPA as a Premium Member Today and get a chance to win a high-quality custom poker table featuring your design from BBO Poker Tables!
Your PPA Premium Membership includes:
- Access to the PPA Litigation Network, active in all 50 States
- Exclusive PPA Chip Card Protector and PPA Window Decal
- PPA Poker Calculator
- Exclusive discounts on PPA Gear
- Ability to donate to the Poker PAC
[click here to join] November Holiday membership special is open to any person in the continental U.S. who becomes a Premium Member between November 11 and December 1, 2009. All new premium members name’s will be entered into a drawing for a custom designed poker table built exclusively for you by BBO Poker Tables [click to see examples]. Don’t delay! Join today and take full advantage of being a Premium Member!
PPA poker table will be shipped in time for your Holiday poker party!
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 New Activist Tool: Tweet for Poker
The PPA has launched a new site that makes it easier than ever for you to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support your right to play poker. Just visit TweetforPoker and click “Send a Tweet to Congress.” And in a few simple clicks you’ll be taken to your Twitter account with a pre-populated message to your Member of Congress. Just click update and you are done. We urge you to visit TweetforPoker today and Stand Up for Poker. In fact Tweet both your Representative and Senators.
Twitter is an effective tool to reach out Congress. If you aren’t already on Twitter you can sign up for an account today. And don’t forget to follow the Poker Players Alliance on Twitter: @ppapoker!
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The Poker Players Alliance
Dedicated to Protecting America’s Favorite Card Game
The Poker Players Alliance is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of poker players and enthusiasts from around the United States who have joined together to speak with one voice to promote the game and to protect poker players’ rights.
Contact Us
1325 G Street NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC, 20005
Phone: 1-888-448-4PPA
Email: email@theppa.org
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