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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
With last month’s major victories in New Jersey and Nevada, I wish to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported the fight for poker and who has contributed their time and effort to the cause. We poker players would not be reaping the fruits of these years of efforts now had we not all come together to organize and to stand up for ourselves!
This is not a fight we players sought. We all simply wished to be left alone to play the great game of poker without bothering anyone else. Sadly, powerful opponents set their sights on our game and on our rights. They engaged in a campaign of hyperbole and, in some cases, outright lies in their efforts to demonize our game and those of us who enjoy it. They achieved several victories along the way, most notably passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Testifying to their strength was its 317-93 margin of victory in the House (and, yes, it was a freestanding bill at the time).
Since then, the poker community responded to this determined, organized opposition to our right to play by fighting fire with fire. We organized, just as they had. We worked with pro-poker lawmakers to introduce legislation. While the early bills were huge underdogs, they helped us to lay the foundation for our fight by giving us a platform upon which we could make our case and demonstrate support for our game on Capitol Hill, in statehouses across the country, and in the mainstream media.
Being organized allowed us to have strong lobbyists fighting for us on the Hill. Our letters, phone calls, and social media grassroots activism gave them the ammo they needed for their fight, while the lobbying effort gave us our voice on Capitol Hill. The synergy did not end there. As we increased the likelihood of online poker becoming authorized in the U.S., supporting us became +EV for other interests, including U.S.-based potential providers, state lotteries, some tribal interests, and others. Thus, rather than opposing us, our efforts helped bring many stakeholders over to the side of the poker community.
So, with Congress unable to pass laws strengthening UIGEA but slow in moving on legislation to license and regulate the game, the states are rapidly moving forward. As the first few dominoes have fallen, we are in a great position for our push across our great nation! With recent news that Congress may look to take up licensing legislation again this year, it looks like we may now have a race between the states and Congress to take action.
So, I encourage everyone to continue to keep this process moving!
Take Action
Will you take a moment now to send them these fully editable, prewritten poker letters to your state and federal elected representatives? Simply click the buttons below (or here). In less than thirty seconds, you can send these emails directly to the inboxes of all your elected state and federal lawmakers!
Thank you for participating!
Survey of New Jersey PPA Members Concerning Anti-Competitive Actions in Their State
On February 26th, the Garden State made history when Governor Chris Christie signed a law that authorizes the state to license and regulate Internet poker and Internet casino gaming. A key component of this law is the economic vitality it promises to bring to Atlantic City and the entire state of New Jersey. Now, that economic success is under attack.
Recently, the American Gaming Association filed a petition to block the sale of the long-struggling Atlantic Club Casino to PokerStars, which has plans to revitalize the casino as an East Coast poker mecca. Denying PokerStars the ability to purchase the Atlantic Club will jeopardize thousands of Atlantic City jobs and economic renewal for a boardwalk casino that is near bankruptcy. It would also mean that PokerStars would be ineligible to offer Internet poker in New Jersey, as the law allows only licensed Atlantic City Casino companies to operate an online gaming web site.
The concern here for PPA and for the poker community is primarily on the impact on market competition. PPA’s strategy for delivering the lowest rake and optimal playing experience relies on market forces, which are dependent on maximum competition among sites. Anti-competitive efforts like this are harmful to us as consumers.
In a strongly worded letter, PokerStars has responded to the AGA petition. The outcome will not be determined until the state’s gaming commissions meets in the coming weeks. In the meantime, to gauge the New Jersey poker community on this matter, PPA sent a questionnaire to the New Jersey membership and 998 members responded. Here are the results:
- Have you played real money poker or play money poker on PokerStars?: 94% yes, 6% no
- How would you rate your experience on PokerStars? (5 = excellent, 1 = poor): 85% voted positively (4 or 5), 3% were negative (1 or 2), while the rest were either neutral (3) or answered that they had never played on the site.
- Do you think PokerStars should be allowed to purchase the Atlantic Club Casino? 96% yes, 4% no
- As a player, would you visit a bricks-and-mortar casino owned and operated by PokerStars? 94% yes, 6% no
- As a player, would you like to have the option to play on an Internet poker web site operated by PokerStars or supported by PokerStars software? 96% yes, 4% no
- Do you believe that the New Jersey Casino Control Commission should be the authority that determines who is suitable for a license? 73% yes, 27% no
- Do you believe PokerStars is a “bad actor” that should not be licensed in New Jersey? 5% yes, 95% no
- Do you support the AGA effort to block PokerStars from being licensed in New Jersey? 6% yes, 94% no
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Texas Activism
Poker is becoming an ever hotter topic in Austin. With several bills pending in the Texas House that would allow for poker in card rooms, social settings or online, we may be seeing the start of a dynamic shift in that state away from outdated gaming laws.
These bills may be brought up for legislative hearings in the near future. Last Sunday, PPA Texas State Director Matt Allen sent an email to all our Texas activists with a list of specific actions they can take action in support of these ongoing efforts. I encourage everyone in the Lone Star State to follow Matt’s lead!
Here are the current poker bills pending in Texas:
HB 292
HB 2098
SB 1103
SJR 43
HB 3529
PPA Texas State Director Matt Allen with his Congressman, poker backer Rep. Joe Barton (R-6th)
Join the PPA
Over the past few weeks, we have been communicating with you about our ambitious goals for poker rights going forward. Historic victories like the one in New Jersey cannot be duplicated elsewhere without your support. We can’t win the fight for our poker rights without the strong financial backing of the poker community. Whether you live in New Jersey or Washington, or any of the 48 other states of this great country, being a 2013 PPA member is the smartest bet for the future of our game. Join today for only $15 to receive the great benefits of membership and to help us continue the fight for our rights as poker players.
Interviews
Upcoming Appearances:
- The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast on OnTilt Radio airs live each Monday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Visit the show site at www.pokeradvocacy.org. 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 appearances:
- Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny on OnTilt Radio (3/25): I was joined by PPA UT State Director Donna Lawton, followed by a panel discussion featuring Marco Valerio, Chris Grove, and “Diamond Flush”! Listen here or on iTunes here.
- Fifth Street Radio (3/24): I sat down with Mark Hoke for a terrific chat on the poker advocacy effort. I come on at time point 0:46:05. Listen here.
- PokerNewsBoy (3/20): ” PPA Check-In with Rich Muny: March Madness.” I sat down with PNB’s Steve Ruddock for our regular, in-depth print interview on the poker advocacy effort. Read here.
Interview Archives:
- Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny: 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
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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