August 22nd, 2012
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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
I have great news. Yesterday, a federal court — the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York — ruled that poker is a game of skill and is not illegal gambling under the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act (IGBA)!
PPA played a central role in the case of U.S. v DiCristina. In coordination with the defendant’s lawyer, PPA provided the arguments and briefs and extensive expert testimony. Lawyers representing PPA wrote the principal briefs and presented the principal oral arguments. Judge Jack Weinstein’s opinion relied heavily upon the information the PPA provided the court.
This was the first federal court decision on whether poker is a game of skill rather than gambling. In his ruling, Judge Weinstein said, “Neither the text of the IGBA nor its legislative history demonstrate that Congress designed the statute to cover all state gambling offenses. Nor does the definition of ‘gambling’ include games, such as poker, which are predominated by skill.”
I hope you will take a moment to read this historic decision and PPA’s amicus brief supporting the argument that poker is a game of skill (click here for both). I also urge you to check out the Associated Press coverage (here), as it summarizes everything nicely and provides great information on PPA’s involvement in this case on behalf of the poker community.
This decision reinforces to all of us that now is the time for Congress to enact a fair and reasonable regulatory model that protects players and provides for a stable market for online poker in the U.S.
Take Action
Let’s all do our part to leverage this victory:
- Let’s recruit new activists by retweeting & favoriting today’s #Fight4Poker action plan HERE, HERE, and HERE, sharing it on our Facebook walls HERE, and sharing it via Google+ HERE.
- Let’s send prefilled, editable pro-poker tweets telling Senators Kyl, Reid & McConnell and Rep. Cantor that, with yesterday’s ruling, it’s time to move on poker legislation: HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
- Let’s comment & vote in an NBC News poker poll. It’s a nice shot to win a poll, but it’s also great for us to show media that their readers support this issue and wish to read about it: HERE
Interviews
Upcoming Appearances:
- The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast airs live each Monday, at 8 pm ET, on OnTilt Radio (listen live here). Follow the program on Facebook at facebook.com/PokerAdvocacy, and on Twitter at @PokerAdvocacy. The show site is ontiltradio.com/ppa.
- Webcast: “PPA Weekly Update” airs live each Tuesday at 9:45 pm ET on Fifth Street Radio (listen live here.
Recent Appearances:
- OnTilt Radio: “The Ryan Sayer Show” I joined Danielle Adams Benham as guest cohost for a great discussion on the IGBA ruling. (8/21) (listen here or on iTunes here).
- OnTilt Radio: “Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny.” I was joined by Wendeen Eolis, Poker Player Newspaper editorial consultant and contributor, for a great discussion. (8/20) (listen here or on iTunes here).
- Fifth Street Radio: I sat down with host Mark Hoke to discuss the DoJ Full Tilt Poker remission process and poker advocacy (8/14) (listen here…I come on at time point 1:45:30 of Part 1).
Interview Archives:
- Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny: show site, show archive, free iTunes download
- Fifth Street Radio PPA Weekly Update: site archive, free iTunes download
- Short Stacked Radio — prior PPA Weekly Updates: site archive
Thank you for your continued support!
Twitter: @RichMuny
Facebook: facebook.com/rich.muny
Google+: gplus.to/richmuny
The PPA wishes to keep active members like yourself updated on the latest poker advocacy news by periodically sending out select events and headlines. We hope you find it informative and thank you for your continuing support.
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The Poker Players AllianceDedicated 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. Visit us at theppa.org
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