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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
Last week, PPA Executive Director John Pappas traveled to California to meet with the state’s lawmakers regarding their push for Internet poker. While in Sacramento, Pappas also met with other leading stakeholders, including Indian tribes and state regulated card rooms, to discuss the prospects of legislation passing this year. Currently, the state has one full bill pending, SB 51, and a placeholder bill introduced as well.
Given its massive population, California represents the nation’s largest potential market for Internet poker. Thusly, there are several competing interests that want the opportunity to offer online poker to California residents. Principal among them are the state’s Indian tribes who already have an exclusive arrangement to offer most gaming in the state. Unfortunately, the tribes are not uniform in their desire to have online poker, so distinct battle lines have been drawn between the tribes who want Internet poker and those who do not. Part of Pappas’ mission for this trip was to talk to opposing tribes and help them better understand the opportunities available through licensed online poker.
We feel tribal governments in particular should view Internet poker as a way to expand their brand and revenue. According the National Indian Gaming Association, a mere one percent of Indian gaming revenue is derived from bricks and mortar poker. The Internet can only help grow that number, as it provides a unique marketing opportunity to attract new customers from across the state, the country, and potentially the world, to their bricks and mortar operations. Poker tourism is booming globally and Internet poker can help California become a global destination for poker players from across the U.S. and around the world.
Pappas also told lawmakers and others that the state needs to think nationally and even globally when it comes to Internet poker. As Pappas explained, by its very nature, Internet poker is borderless. Establishing California as a national (and perhaps global) leader for Internet poker would also create thousands of high paying, high-tech jobs for the state. The state already has a deep commitment to Internet innovation. Licensed Internet poker would produce a new avenue for research, investment, and California-led innovation for this burgeoning industry. PPA provided legislative language to amend existing legislation to allow California to engage other states in compacts or reciprocal agreements.
Finally, Pappas sought to bring the discussion back to the poker player. The debate in California has been dominated by how business will benefit from the new marketplace. Profitability and a pro-business environment are important, of course. However, this can only be achieved in a consumer-friendly market. Ultimately, we poker players will determine the future success or failure of Internet poker in California. Pappas offered ideas on how the state can foster a competitive market that provides the consumer choice and incentives to attract and keep customers.
At this time, the prospects for legislation in the Golden State remain unclear. There are a growing number of tribes who are now signaling their support for Internet poker in general. However, no tribes have come out in support of the current legislation. This could mean that there will be a third proposal emerging in the coming weeks.
With other states pushing forward, California needs to act soon. We expect Senator Roderick Wright to push for a hearing and a vote on this bill this spring. In the meantime, PPA will continue to educate lawmakers and leading stakeholders and help bring consensus around a set of principles that puts the players first and establishes California as a global leader for Internet poker.
New York Senate Includes Online Poker in Budget Proposal
Earlier this week, the New York State Senate passed a non-binding budget proposal that includes a provision to allow for licensing and regulation of online poker in the state! PPA New York State Director Randy Hagen and PPA were instrumental in reaching out to Senate co-leaders Jeff Klein and Dean Skelos to encourage them to include the online poker provision in the Senate budget.
PPA’s efforts in support of the 2012 court ruling (click here) that found poker to be a game of skill and not a game of chance as defined by a specific federal law helped open the door for New York to join Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware in passing online poker legislation.
Several Poker Bills Pending in the Texas Legislature
After years of grassroots efforts by the Texas poker community, three prominent Texas state legislators have introduced several poker bills. These bills, should they become law, will allow Texans to play poker in card rooms, at private social clubs and online.
Representative Eddie Rodriguez filed HB 292, the Poker Gaming Act of 2013, which designates poker as a game of skill and issues poker licenses to bingo operators, licensed pari-mutuels and Native American tribes. It also allows for charitable poker tournaments and provides consumer protections that currently do not exist in Texas.
Representative Ryan Guillen filed HB 2098, the Social Poker Gaming Act of 2013, which would provide for social poker clubs in Texas. The bill would allow club members to play in non-raked games and would allow licensed businesses to earn revenue through membership dues and food and beverage sales.
State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (SB 1103 & SJR 43) and State Representative John Kuempel (HB 3529 & HJR 141) have filed companion bills that would allow Texas to opt-in to any federal licensed online poker law, should one pass.
I spoke with Texas State Director Matt Allen about this at length on Monday evening’s Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast. If you missed the live show, I encourage you to check out the podcast here.
HB 292
HB 2098
SB 1103
SJR 43
HB 3529
Illinois Bill to License and Regulate Online Poker Passes Committee Vote
Illinois State Director Bill Gentes reports that on March 8th, Illinois State Senator Terry Link introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 1739 (here) that would license and regulate Internet poker and Internet casino gaming. The amendment was passed out of committee by a 10-4 vote, with a full Senate vote expected soon.
Interviews
Upcoming Appearances:
- The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast on OnTilt Radio airs live each Monday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Follow the program on Facebook at facebook.com/PokerAdvocacy, and on Twitter at @PokerAdvocacy. The show site is ontiltradio.com/ppa. Listen live here.
- Webcast: “PPA Weekly Update” airs live each Sunday at 6:45 pm ET/3:45 pm PT on Fifth Street Radio. Listen live here.
Recent appearance:
- OnTilt Radio (3/11): “Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny.” I was joined by PPA TX State Director Matt Allen for a terrific chat on proposed poker laws in Texas! Listen here or on iTunes 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
Social Media
For the most up-to-date news, follow us at:
Thank you for your continued support!
Proud to play,
Rich Muny
PPA Members are Winning Big!
Last week, our friends at HogWild Poker Leagues hosted the Free Roll Finale of the PPA/Heartland Poker Tour Main event series. PPA members and others played in a series of six qualifiers for the right to play in the 300 player Free Roll Finale. A whopping 247 of the 300 players in the Finale were 2013 PPA members! In the end, PPA member James “ChipGlass” Watson won the event. He took home a prize package worth over $2,000!!
On top of winning an entry to the Heartland Poker Tour Main Event tournament of his choice, James also won a custom “PPA Heartland Series” championship bracelet from our friends at Pro Poker Gear. Pro Poker Gear makes beautiful, custom bracelets for any poker event, from casino championship events and charity tournaments to home game tournaments.
Click here to check out the bracelet they made for the PPA Greg Raymer series. Priced for the average poker player, the next time you are hosting a big time tournament back home, think about adding a Pro Poker Gear bracelet to your prize pool! It will make your poker game an unforgettable event.
At the PPA, we are always striving to deliver the best benefits in the poker world to our members. Don’t miss out on opportunities to win big. James Watson took full advantage of his PPA membership. Now he will be playing for a shot at hundreds of thousands of dollars on national TV. Become a 2013 PPA member today!
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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