November 21st, 2014
By Poker Players Alliance
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Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations
I have excellent news to share this week. The House Judiciary Committee rejected calls to hold a lame duck hearing on Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson’s Internet poker prohibition bill!
What this means is that the only remaining way for the so-called Restoration of America’s Wire Act – where even the name is a lie — to become law in the lame duck is for Congressional leadership to allow it to be attached to “must pass” legislation. However, as passing this bill in that manner, with no hearings or freestanding votes, would be such a clear case of political payback, the likelihood is lower, but we are in no way out of the woods. Still, it is possible and we all need to remain vigilant. We need to keep up the pressure on Congress for the lame duck as well as for 2015 and beyond, while also encouraging state lawmakers to pass authorizing legislation.
Adelson was, so to speak, able to get his Capitol Hill chess pieces into position for a lame duck push. PPA was also positioned on Capitol Hill to deny Adelson his ban. Fortunately, while Adelson was investing virtually all his efforts on the Hill, we poker players and enthusiasts did a great job keeping a bright light on this through traditional and social media, as well as through grassroots activism. Lawmakers heard from us — some of whom were not aware of the lame duck push until then. This disinfecting light of the truth pulled RAWA out of the lame duck shadows from where Adelson had hoped to launch it.
For all Adelson’s successes at getting set up on Capitol Hill, we’ve clearly won the lame luck media battle to date. His placed op-eds and columns were greeted largely with ridicule, helped along by the comment sections (which were virtually 100% in our favor, even when the author didn’t call poker players “chumps“). The anti-RAWA op-eds and columns, on the other hand, were far more persuasive. We’re also clearly winning the lame duck social media battle, where pro-RAWA sentiment is largely a no-show. Adelson would have been better off not even trying, it has been so lopsided.
We need your help to keep fighting through the end of the year. In 2015, Adelson and his minions will have to start all over. Adelson will have plenty of supporters, but it will be a tougher road for him than the lame duck. We will have full debates, states pushing back harder once this becomes more “real” to them, lottery opposition, politicians who are reluctant to cross Adelson now expressing opposition as this becomes more “real” to them, etc. And, time is not on Adelson’s side. More states will move to authorize this, and it really takes just one or two big states to make this moot. Adelson may then be limited to seeking a halt to expansion, but a federal shutdown may not be in the cards at that point.
So, we are in a real fight. It is very winnable, but everyone needs to be on board. I am glad there is a sense of urgency among poker activists. Some players wonder why Congress does not seem to understand how many poker players want the right to play. The answer to that is simple. We have to tell them that we want our right to play! I thank everyone who chooses to fight back.
Take Action
As I have shared a few times here, I coordinate a daily action plan by which we can all advocate for poker in just a few minutes per day. I encourage you to join us all there: facebook.com/PokerDailyActionPlan
Ron Paul Publicly Opposes Online Poker Ban
Three time presidential candidate, twelve term congressman, and perennial champion of liberty Dr. Ron Paul penned a terrific column on Sheldon Adelson’s attempts to ban online poker. I encourage you to take a moment to check it out: Internet Gambling Ban: A Winner for Sheldon Adelson, A Losing Bet for the Rest of Us
He also focused his weekly “Texas Straight Talk” update on online poker and crony capitalism:
Conservative Groups Issue Letter in Opposition to Online Poker Ban
I have even more great news. Today, several conservative groups including Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty, and Competitive Enterprise Institute came out publicly against RAWA. I encourage you to check out their letter. I also encourage you to read a terrific Washington Post column on the letter and on the RAWA lame duck fight.
Webcast: Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny
On this week’s webcast, I was joined live by outstanding poker activists Curt Woodard and Gail Schiffli for a great panel chat on Sheldon Adelson’s anti-online poker efforts, grassroots activism, and general poker discussion. You won’t want to miss this.
- Directly downloadable MP3 file (right click to save, left click to listen)
- Free iTunes download
Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny airs live Monday at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on OnTilt Radio. Each show features great guests and the best discussion on poker legislation. Please be sure to tune in at www.ontiltradio.com each week for the live show.
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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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