excerpt:

But there’s also the political agenda of the organizers, the Poker Players Alliance. Several politicians were on hand, including U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colorado.

The alliance is working to legalize online poker. As part of those efforts, the group wants to repeal legislation Congress passed in 2006 that prohibits U.S. banks and credit-card companies from processing transactions for gambling websites.

(more…)

excerpt:

They say Hollywood stars are dominating the show here. Ben Affleck certainly is.

Last night (or rather, early this morning), Affleck won a charity poker tournament sponsored by the poker industry’s lobbying group and made good on a promise he made before coming here.

(more…)

excerpt:

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), now over one million members strong, is taking advantage of the concentration of delegates and members of Congress at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions during the next few days, to continue to lobby for the legalization of online poker, by holding charity poker tournaments to benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

(more…)

excerpt:

Colorado’s gambling law has put a damper on a star-studded charity poker tournament planned for next week during the Democratic National Convention.

The “Poker at the Ballpark” tournament initially had a seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, valued at $10,000, as the grand prize.

(more…)

excerpt:

It was only a matter of time before the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) became involved in the Republican National Convention (RNC), which kicks off on September 1st at the Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the RNC, the PPA will be reaching out to members of Congress who have historically not been friendly to legalized internet gambling in the United States. The Republican Party led the charge to pass the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006 and, at a recent hearing, forced the law’s ambiguity to continue. This time around, the PPA has partnered with the American Gaming Association (AGA) to benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

(more…)

excerpt:

Last year around this time, Central Valley poker superstar Jerry Yang was celebrating his $8.25 million victory in the main event of the World Series of Poker. This year, Yang is giving back as the main celebrity attraction at two tournaments in cardrooms within a short drive of the Bay Area.

(more…)

excerpt:

SEWARD — Texas hold ’em card games may be popular among poker players, but they aren’t a legal form of gambling in Pennsylvania – as one area fire company is finding out the hard way.

Seward Volunteer Fire Company held at least three money-raising poker tournaments in 2007.

Now, the state Attorney General’s Office is seeking $40,814 from the illegal games.

(more…)

excerpt:

LANSING — Arlene Minsky couldn’t tell you who the current World Series of Poker champion is. Nor is she positive that a straight flush beats four of a kind.

Minsky is the president of the Clinton County Arts Council, a non-profit organization based in St. Johns that promotes the arts and cultural heritage of Clinton County.

The council is hosting an open house this month for its new “train museum,” in St. Johns — complete with restored train cars, models and artwork housed in a historical train depot.

It couldn’t have happened without poker.

(more…)

excerpt:

It’s getting easier to play poker for a good cause in Jackson.

A card room run by Charity Poker Solutions opens today at Hot Rods, 1715 W. Michigan Ave.

Charity Poker Solutions, owned by Patrick O’Dowd, Jason Fuller and Tomas Cobb, plans to host Texas hold ‘em tournaments four days a week on behalf of charities and nonprofit organizations.

(more…)