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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
I have terrific news to share regarding our efforts. Delaware, which authorized real-money online poker last year, and New Jersey, which followed suit earlier this year, will soon go live with real-money games! Delaware will start offering real-money play with the launch of its site on Halloween. New Jersey’s sites will follow suit with real-money play starting next month. Five sites have already received licenses, with more to come, so we players can expect a robust market in the Garden State. Nevada, of course, is already home of two live sites.
This is great news for all of us. With these three states offering online poker, there will be significant pressure on the other states to take action on this issue. We will see our advocacy efforts aided by the lobbying efforts of companies seeking to offer poker in these states. This will benefit players in the states with online poker as well, as it will help lead to interstate compacting, increasing liquidity. And, this may even help pressure Congress to take action on authorizing online poker.
Thank you for supporting PPA. Our wisdom as players and enthusiasts in organizing is bearing fruit. Can I count on you to keep it up, to ensure our efforts continue to bear fruit?
Join PPA
A 2013 PPA membership 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!
PPA at Maryland Live! Casino
PPA Executive Director John Pappas is in Philadelphia today representing the poker community at the World Regulatory Briefing USA. This important conference, featuring leading figures from the international poker and gaming industry, including politicians, operators, and regulators, started yesterday and will run through today.
John Pappas and gaming attorney David Gzesh
John Pappas on a panel at WrB
PPA at World Regulatory Briefing USA
On Monday, the PPA Washington team headed 30 minutes north to visit the area’s newest poker room at the Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover, MD. Situated conveniently to multiple population centers like Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and Baltimore, it is no wonder the team was greeted by a packed poker room late on a Monday afternoon. In fact, close to 400 players, spreading everything from 1/2 NLHE to 10/10 PLO, filled two floors of the brand new poker room that opened its doors for business in August.
The fact that the demand for poker in the area is quite large showed itself last November, when PPA and the Maryland poker community rallied around Question 7, a state referendum to allow Maryland’s existing slots-only casinos to expand their offerings to include table games. PPA worked tirelessly to inform players and enthusiasts in the state about the referendum, encouraging them to vote for it on Election Day. PPA even recruited Maryland poker hero and reigning WSOP Main Event champion Greg Merson to join the cause and to call on the poker community to take action.
It was a close vote. Ultimately, the referendum passed, with much credit being given to poker players’ last minute push. As a result, Maryland poker players have been rewarded with three new poker rooms: the top-notch poker room at Maryland Live! and impressive poker rooms at two other Maryland casinos.
We’d like to thank Maryland Live! President & General Manager Rob Norton for inviting PPA to visit their facility and giving us a personal tour, and poker room manager Mike Smith, who has more than 20 years of experience in the poker industry.
Michigan Charitable Gaming
Charitable gaming in Michigan is in jeopardy of being severely curtailed. PPA recently sent an email to the Michigan membership, asking them to contact their state legislators about House Bill 4960, a bill that would repeal these new regulations and restore charitable poker and gaming in Michigan.
Additionally, the Michigan Charitable Gaming Association has filed suit to block these regulations. They were granted a public comment hearing that will be held next month. Please watch your inbox for further information and instructions for attending the hearing and for submitting comments.
Date: November 7, 2013
Time: 9 am – 11 am
Location: Michigan Historical Library & Museum – Forum
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48909
Webcast: Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny
The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast airs each Monday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on OnTilt Radio. The Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny webcast airs live each Monday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on OnTilt Radio. This week’s show features an interview with 2004 World Series of Poker Champion Greg Raymer. If you missed the live webcast, I hope you will listen to or download the free podcast and check it out. It is available as a directly downloadable MP3 file (right-click to save, left click to listen) or as a free iTunes download.
Each show features great guests and the best discussion on poker legislation. Next week, PPA Executive Director John Pappas will come on to update the community on the fight for poker. Please be sure to tune in each Monday evening for the live webcast!!
Interview archives
- Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny: show archive, free iTunes download
- Fifth Street Radio PPA Weekly Update: site archive, free iTunes download
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Thank you for your continued support!
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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