In late October, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), which now counts more than 800,000 members nationwide, continued its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. In perhaps its most ambitious organized effort to date, the PPA hosted a fly-in and policy conference that drew lawmakers and poker superstars.
The event was covered by major newspapers, including the
Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and
USA Today, and succeeded in its primary goal of exposing nearly 50 members of the U.S. House and Senate to the pitfalls of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and to the fact that poker should be regulated and taxed, not banned. The Act, which prohibits banks and credit-card companies from processing online gambling transactions, including poker, makes no distinction for games of skill.
That message was made loud and clear, and
Card Player was there. You can read all about the event in the Inside Straight.
We'd like to thank all of the 100-plus PPA members and poker enthusists who spent their time and money to go to Washington, D.C. Your attendance provided a voice for the millions of U.S. citizens who play online poker, and hopefully increased momentum in enacting sensible laws to tax and regulate online poker.
The PPA's been busy, and there are a few bills in the works that could change poker's legal landscape. The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2046), proposed by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), would establish a federal regulatory and enforcement framework under which Internet gambling operators could obtain licenses authorizing them to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the U.S.
Another bill, The Skill Game Protection Act (H.R. 2610), would carve out skill games such as online poker, bridge, chess, and mahjong from the online gambling prohibition. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.).
These bills would mean big money to the U.S. government. According to the PPA's website, approximately $3.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $1 billion in state tax revenue could be collected if Internet poker was regulated.
The PPA's efforts are gaining momentum and its membership ranks are swelling. If you love poker and want to fight for your right to play, you can join the PPA for free at www.pokerplayersalliance.org.
