Poker News

Congressional Hearing Set as Support Grows for Regulated Internet Poker

- Poker Pro Annie Duke will testify before the House Judiciary Committee -
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to examine the United States policies as they relate to Internet gaming. Annie Duke, one of the top poker players in the world will testify before the Committee on behalf of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

The hearing comes on the heels of a successful PPA Washington Fly-In where nearly 100 online poker enthusiasts converged on Capitol Hill for two days of advocacy and meetings with more than 50 members of Congress. According to a recent poll conducted by RT Strategies National Omnibus Poll, Americans, by a two to one margin (51 percent - 21 percent) oppose government prohibitions to Internet poker. Moreover, by a two to one margin (56 percent - 23 percent) Americans strongly support federal regulation of Internet poker as a means to control underage gambling and help problem gamblers. Full data can be found here.

"Chairman Conyers hearing is an important step toward educating Congress about the folly of an Internet gaming prohibition," said PPA Chairman, former Senator Alfonse D'Amato.
"It won't work, and it is tremendously bad public policy. Only through proper regulation can we provide the proper safeguards for consumers and generate billions in additional, and much needed, tax revenue for this country," D'Amato said.

Hearing Information
Wednesday, November 14th at 10:00 AM
Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers
House Judiciary Committee, 2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Media Opportunities
Annie Duke and former Senator Alfonse D'Amato, PPA Chairman, or John A. Pappas, PPA Executive Director are available for print and broadcast interviews.
The Poker Players Alliance is a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of American poker players.
SOURCE Poker Players Alliance

PPA Fighting for Legal Poker Rooms in Kentucky

UNION, Ky., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Ernie Fletcher's election-year decision to oppose a statewide referendum on the issue of casino gaming in the commonwealth has drawn the ire of the state's poker players, as Fletcher's position includes opposition to poker rooms. In September, the Kentucky State Chapter of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) announced it was mounting a statewide grassroots advocacy campaign in support of poker in Kentucky. Since then, over one thousand pro-poker letters and phone calls from concerned poker players have flooded the offices of Fletcher and state representatives.
When asked for a comment on the success of the PPA effort, PPA Kentucky State Director Rich Muny today stated that PPA's efforts in the state exceeded all expectations, and he warned that Kentucky PPA members will take their pro- poker sentiments to the polls next Tuesday. Muny stated, "Governor Fletcher is running not on his achievements of the past four years, but on a campaign of distraction. In the process, Fletcher has demonized the good folks who enjoy the game of poker. Indiana has card rooms built right on Kentucky's borders, as do other states. Kentucky deserves to keep this revenue in our own state for the benefit of our own citizens. Additionally, our citizens deserve the freedom to choose to play a hand of poker."
Muny urges all Kentucky poker enthusiasts to contact Governor Fletcher at (502) 607-8683, or via email at contact@erniefletcher.com. He says, "tell him you'll vote for your freedom and for Kentucky."
The Poker Players Alliance is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of over 800,000 poker players and enthusiasts from around the United States who have joined together to speak with one voice to promote the game, ensure its integrity, and, most importantly, to protect poker players' rights. The PPA seeks to guarantee players secure, safe, and regulated places to play. They promote poker with the intent to keep this recreational activity free from unreasonable government intervention.
SOURCE The Poker Players Alliance