December 19th, 2012
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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
Remembering the Newtown, CT Tragedy
On behalf of the entire poker community, PPA would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the victims, survivors, and families whose lives were turned upside down by the tragic events in Newtown, CT this past Friday.
PPA Connecticut State Director Chad Lehofer offered the following statement:
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“My heart goes out to all the families affected by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I would also like to honor Kaitlin Roig, a 1st grade teacher, who in the face of danger showed true heroism and rushed her 15 students into a bathroom and blocked the door with a bookshelf. HERE is a link to her video interview. Her story touched me the most.”
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Update on the Poker Advocacy Effort
I am proud of the effort so many in the poker community made to advocate for federal online poker legislation in 2012 and I thank everyone who participated in ensuring we were all heard. The community fought hard and came back from deep adversity from just a few years ago. After all, the bill that became the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed the House by 317-93 as a freestanding bill (it was not added to the SAFE Port Act until later, in the Senate backrooms).
Though it did not pass this year, the awareness raised by this bill will surely help us in the state-by-state fight in 2013. In fact, an impediment to the federal bill’s passage was the desire of some states to authorize their own online poker.
For a good article explaining why federal legislation makes sense, I encourage you to check out the Mark Lipparelli piece HERE. For PPA’s statement on the matter, please check that out HERE.
2013 will be an exciting time for the poker community. New Jersey is taking this issue up already. Their General Assembly passed legislation to license online poker by a two-to-one margin, and the NJ State Senate will vote on the bill on Thursday. Other states, like California, are sure to take up this issue pretty quickly as well. Additionally, the federal effort is not over by any means. While PPA will shift some focus to the states, be assured PPA will continue to ensure Congress hears from America’s poker players and enthusiasts on this important issue!
Take Action
Let’s encourage Gov. Chris Christie & NJ Senate President Stephen Sweeney to support online poker in New Jersey by sending prefilled, editable poker tweets! HERE and HERE.
PPA & PokerStars Helping Those Affected By Hurricane Sandy
The cold weather is bearing down on the East Coast, and sadly there are still thousands of residents who are without power or even warm homes due to the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. This past weekend, PPA Grassroots Director Drew Lesofski hand delivered hundreds of fleeces, hoodies, and other winter-weather clothing to communities in need. The items were made available thanks to a very generous donation of clothing from PokerStars to help those in need.
Upon receiving the boxes of fleeces and hoodies from PokerStars, PPA connected with local charities in New Jersey to distribute these items. Drew met with hundreds of families who stood in line at a local American Legion Hall in Keansburg, NJ to distribute the PokerStars items and other donated goods. “Warm clothing is a cherished item for those affected by the storm and the community was so grateful for the donations. I am proud that we could help, even in a small way, those who have literally been left with nothing due to Sandy’s devastation,” said Drew.
Social Media
For the most up-to-date news, follow us at:
Interviews
Upcoming Appearance:
- The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast on OnTilt Radio will be airing encore programs the next two Monday evenings, retuning live Monday Jan 7th at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Listen here. You can follow the program on Facebook at facebook.com/PokerAdvocacy, and on Twitter at @PokerAdvocacy. The show site is ontiltradio.com/ppa. The program has been nominated for a number of OnTilt Radio awards. You can vote for your favorites at ontiltradio.com/thetiltys
Recent appearances:
- OnTilt Radio (12/17): “Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny.” I was joined by Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers for a terrific discussion. Special thanks to Kevin for filling in at the last minute (listen here or on iTunes here).
- Fifth Street Radio (12/16): I sat down with Mark Hoke for a great discussion (I come on at time point 0:45:35 of Part 1…listen here)
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!
Proud to play,
Rich Muny
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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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