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PPA Victory in Massachusetts
Thursday, April 15, 2010, The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved the PPA’s amendment to the state’s gaming legislation which removed language criminalizing playing online poker and other gaming over the Internet.
The PPA would like to thank the thousands of Bay Staters, as well as State Representative Brian Dempsey, who introduced the amendment striking the criminalization language, and State Representative Brian Wallace, who has offered H 4069, a bill to define poker as a game of skill, for their support and commitment to protecting poker player’s freedoms throughout the Commonwealth.
PPA has over 25,000 members in Massachusetts, and has been working closely with Massachusetts lawmakers since 2008 to preserve Massachusetts’ citizens’ rights to play poker, whether online or in person.
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South Carolina
 Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, H.4267, a bill that would legalize home poker games and also expand charity gaming (including charity poker tournaments), made it over a crucial first hurdle when it won bipartisan support by passing 4 to 1 out of the South Carolina House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee. However, one day later, this historic bill was tabled pending clarification of the charity component. The PPA expects the issue to be resolved shortly and for H.4267 to be voted on by the full South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee in the very near future.
South Carolina law, dating back over 200 years, makes it a crime to play games that use cards or dice, like poker, bridge, Bunko, backgammon, or Monopoly, in the privacy of one’s own home.
Florida
 Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010, the PPA learned that HB 1441, Internet Poker Consumer Protection & Revenue Generation Act of 2010, a bill to create a state-authorized monopoly for operating an intra-state Internet poker network, died in Florida House Insurance Committee without a vote.
The PPA does not oppose State-based licensing and regulation of Internet poker. We strongly believe that a regulated marketplace will provide a better experience for the Internet player. We’re concerned, however, when states propose misguided legislation like HB1441 that cut Internet players off from the rest of the world, set up state supported monopolies and limit player’s choice in the marketplace.
The Florida Legislature adjourns on April 30, 2010, and the PPA will be updating members there on legislation that would impact our ability to play poker online.
Pennsylvania
 In March 2010, the PPA was disappointed to learn that, in 2 to 1 divided decision, the Pennsylvania Superior Court overturned a 2008 country judge’s ruling that declared poker a game of skill. The PPA has been involved in the case and will update Pennsylvanian members should this case be challenged by the defendants. To read the PPA Petition for Allowance to Appeal please click here.
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NY PPA State Director Randy Hagen
 Randy Hagen is the New York State Director for the Poker Players Alliance. Randy has been playing most of his life, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that he started playing poker on a regular basis in his hometown of Washingtonville, New York, through Big Slick, Inc., a private poker club.
In addition to his love for the game of poker, Randy has spent the last 20 years focusing on various charities and supporting their fundraising efforts. In his position with the PPA, Randy has been able to help promote multiple charities throughout the State of New York to raise money and awareness for their cause in an effort to find cures for debilitating diseases.
Randy has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from Marist College. He is a former health club owner and currently is the CEO of an Ambulatory Surgery Center. Randy is married and enjoys time with his wife JoLee and four small children. Randy is committed to furthering the PPA’s fight on both the national and state level.
Contact Randy at [email protected].
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Recap: Ante-Up for Africa Charitable Poker Tournament in DC
 Congratulations to Earnest Whistler of Fairfax, Virginia, a PPA Premium member, for winning 1st place in the fifth annual Ante-Up for Africa charity poker tournament and a $10,000 seat to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker. Damon Sita, also a PPA member from the DC Metropolitan area, won 2nd place and a two day World Series of Poker Training Academy package. Josh Schindler of www.PokerLawyer.com fame (and legal counsel for Dennis Phillips who was the 3rd place finisher at the 2008 World Series of Poker) unexpectedly placed third and walked away with a $250 Visa Gift Card.
 The event attracted world renowned poker pros Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Chris Moneymaker, and Victor Ramdin, as well as acclaimed author Jim McManus. The honorary co-chairs for this event were Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA). Additionally, US Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), John Lewis (D-GA), Jim Moran (D-VA) and Donald Payne (D-NJ) served on the Honorary Host Committee.
Ante Up For Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein. Ante Up for Africa is dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need.
Recap: 1736 Family Crisis Center Charitable Poker Tournament
 On Saturday, April 3, 2010, the PPA along with professional poker player Annie Duke hosted a charity poker tournament on behalf of the 1736 Family Crisis Center. The tournament was held at the recently renovated Bicycle Club Casino in Bell Gardens, CA. The event raised over $90,000 for the Center and attracted poker virtuosos such as Sam Simons, one of the original developers of The Simpsons, and poker pros such as “The First Lady of Poker” Linda Johnson and Karina Jett.
 Additionally, Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills made an appearance and learned a few poker tips from Annie Duke, which was filmed for their upcoming show. First place and a $10,000 seat to the World Series of Poker was won by the Honorable Mayor of Beverly Hills, Jimmy Delshad. Congratulations Mayor!
1736 Family Crisis Center offers life-saving services to domestic violence victims and abused, homeless youth and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ensuring the safety of runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence victims and their children, and other individuals in crisis by operating several domestic violence shelters, an emergency youth, three community clinics, and five emergency hotlines throughout Los Angeles. You can learn more about the 1736 Family Crisis Center by visiting their website at www.1736familycrisiscenter.org.
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PPA Partnership with Southern Gaming Magazine
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The PPA is proud to announce a new partnership with Southern Gaming Magazine.
For every PPA member who subscribes, Southern Gaming will donate $1 to the PPA. In addition, all PPA members will be eligible for an exclusive Pre-Sale on tickets to the Derby Poker Championship. |
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Bluff Magazine
 The PPA is proud to announce a new partnership with BLUFF Magazine, America’s leading poker publication published by Bluff Media, LLC. For every new subscription by a PPA member, Bluff will make a $4 dollar donation to the PPA, which will allow us to continue fighting for your right to play poker. Additionally, the PPA will send a free PPA t-shirt to every new subscriber during the promotional offer period. To take advantage of this exciting subscription offer, please click this link and enter Aprils promotion code PPA40 to take advantage of this limited time offer.
Card Player Cruises
 The PPA is proud to announce that all premium members will receive a $50 discount on any Card Player Cruises poker trip just by mentioning “I’m a premium PPA member” when they make their reservations. Cruise prices start at less than $100 per day and include the cabin, all-you-can-eat, and nonstop entertainment. Card Player Cruises offers a wide variety of live games and tournaments, as well as free beginner lessons, poker seminars, and private parties. For more information, call 888-999-4880 or go to www.cardplayercruises.com.
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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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 New Activist Tool: Tweet for Poker
The PPA is growing leaps and bounds in part to our cutting edge social networking grassroots abilities. If you are not already a part of one of our social networking groups please join us/follow us at:
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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 protected]
Forward this newsletter to a fellow poker player
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