Dear Member,

As we near the end of 2007, the fight for poker gains
momentum.  Since our last newsletter, the
PPA has become more involved at the state level, received national media
coverage, and we have become an increasingly active and influential force in
Washington, D.C.

Our Washington Fly-In and policy conference was a huge
success and we made a significant impression on Congress and the media. In just
two days of lobbying the “fly-in” participants met with nearly 50 members of
the U.S. House and Senate. Several of our meetings resulted in commitments of
support and co-sponsorship of H.R. 2046 and H.R. 2610. Click here to see coverage.

As a result of the DC Fly-In, Rep. John Conyers (MI)
Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss Internet
gaming in which PPA Representative, Annie Duke ably testified and proudly
defended our right to play, letting Congress know we will not lie down and
surrender our rights. Click here to see coverage.

At the state level, when unjust laws or campaigns are
introduced against poker players, individual players across the country are
often the first to hear about them. Our PPA State Directors in Massachusetts, Kentucky,
and Washington State
have successfully brought attention to such events and continue to fight for America’s card
game.

Responding to a proposed casino bill criminalizing online
poker, MA State Rep, Randy Castonguay helped organize the delivery of more than
1700 letters to State Reps, State Senators and the Governor in less than a
week. KY State Rep, Rich Muny led an effort against an anti-poker Governor with
calls, letters and emails from PPA members. 
WA State Rep., Lee Rousso is entrenched in a legal fight with Washington
Courts to overturn a state ban on online poker.

To highlight the importance of state poker rights, ReasonTV
and Drew Carey produced a video focusing on a Dallas police poker raid at Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 1837 that took place in April 2007. The video segment comes
in time for the Dec. trial of those arrested and questions the aspects
surrounding the raid. Watch the piece here.

Now is a critical time to build on the momentum and coverage
of our successful DC Fly-In, House Judiciary hearing on Internet gaming, and
state initiatives, and to increase grassroots activism at the state level for
2008. If you haven’t already, contact your PPA State Director and let
them know you want to be involved in 2008.

I would also like to introduce our new Manager of Membership
Relations, Bryan Spadaro. We are very excited to have Bryan as part of our growing team. With prior
DC experience, Bryan
brings a passion for both politics and poker. If you have any questions for
him, feel free to contact him via the PPA forums.

To help kickstart the PPA forums for 2008 we are having a
free raffle for a PPA Poker Table. Create a login at the PPA Forums and make a
post in the 2008 Giveaway thread to enter. See rules at the PPA forum.
The PPA forums are a great place to post your ideas about things PPA can do and share pertinent information with
your fellow PPA members.

We would also like to say goodbye to David “Chip”
Reese who passed away this month. Chip was an incredible ambassador of poker
and true professional of the game with incredible skill and grace. 

Lastly, we at the PPA would like to take this opportunity to
wish all of you and your loved ones a happy holidays.

Proud to play poker,
Alfonse D’Amato, Chairman
Poker Players Alliance

Tags: pressrelease2007

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under Press Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can from your own site.