Thank You PPA (new website)

[pifhluk]

Thank You PPA for sending me an email as to whats going on and thank you for creating this website:

http://pokerplayersalliance.wordpress.com/

Looks Good, much improved, keep it up!

[Cubswin]

Looks like PPA has started a monthly email newsletter as well...

http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/newsletters/nl1106.html

This is a very positive development. Looks like Michael and the PPA crew are overcoming the growing pains quickly. Keep up the grassroots communications Michael!!!

[Kevmath]

[ QUOTE ]
Thank You PPA for sending me an email as to whats going on and thank you for creating this website:

http://pokerplayersalliance.wordpress.com/

Looks Good, much improved, keep it up!

[/ QUOTE ]

That site's been up since late August (which was unknown to me and probably many others) since I never saw a mention of the blog.

[demon102]

thanks for posting I was wondering y there old site hasnt had any updates for like forever

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
thanks for posting I was wondering y there old site hasnt had any updates for like forever

[/ QUOTE ]

I like how the new sites has dates and regular updates, very important.

[PPA President]

Thanks for the note. We are working on a complete revamp of the website. As we do not have a great amount of technical resources, we created the wordpress blog that enabled us to post more content on a daily basis. We hope to do the same for the main website, and do less pdfs, develop content tools to be able up provide more information etc. as we have received complaints from our members and we listen.

We also distributed a new newsletter to members that is meant to educate members on how Representatives voted on HR4411 in advance of this upcoming election. It is vital that poker players vote on November 7th. I do not believe as Senator Kyl's spokesperson said, that this constituency will not weigh in on this election as this is your chance to determine the fate of the next session starting January 1st.
Please join the Poker Players Alliance membership and go to the polls.
Regards,
Michael Bolcerek

[ASD99]

looks a lot better...seems like at least some progress is being made.

[permafrost]

Mr. Bolcerek,

I was reading the FAQ's in the link above and want you to reconcile the following quotes from there, especially in light of your plan to "Keep it Legal".

[ QUOTE ]
Why should I join the Poker Players Alliance?
The government is threatening to take away our right to play poker online,

[/ QUOTE ]

and later in a FAQ about poker legality


[ QUOTE ]
very few states allow commercial poker games.


[/ QUOTE ]

Seems to me that since "commercial poker" is not allowed with "very few" exceptions, you will have a hard time claiming "rights" and "Keep It Legal" as a strategy in regards to internet poker.

Thanks

[PPA President]

The fact is that there is no federal law that make the playing of poker on-line illegal (although there are a number of state laws that apply directly or indirectly to poker. Our assertion is that if there is no law that outlaws an activity then it is by definition, legal. Sadly this is a new definition of freedom that we have to define our activities.

We probably need to refine the statement "keep poker legal", as we would like to have poker affirmatively legalized both at the federal and state level, on in internet, in your homes, and in other establishments. We are looking to obtain a clear exemption for a skill game, poker from the UIGEA with an accompanying study bill that would evaluate the potential and define the best way to regulate internet poker, with safeguards for fairness of game, financial solvency and transparency, age restriction technology, and tools for responsible poker playing. This is our primary focus.

We also support home poker, charitable poker, pub leagues in all States, so while we have commercial poker establishments, i.e. cardrooms and casinos, poker is played legally in a number of venues outside of commercial establishments. So poker is legal outside of just commercial establishments, and as much as possible we support efforts at a local level, either directly, or often by other members in the PPA community.
That being said, we have many antiquated laws at a state and local level that make the simple enjoyment of poker illegal and need to be changed.
Regards,
Michael

[permafrost]

Sounds like you have a full plate so no rush to answer one clarifying question.

If your statement

[ QUOTE ]
very few states allow commercial poker games.



[/ QUOTE ]
does include internet poker, would you name those few States please?

[autobet]

us poker (http://pokersearch.com/PokerRooms/North%20America/United%20States/abcdefg.aspx)

most interesting that poker is legal in Arizona and Iowa where two of the leaders of the anti gambling came from. These are also two big time gambling states.

Also, you can play poker in Washington, but playing online is a felony.

[permafrost]

Saying "poker is legal" in a State because they have regulated a few businesses is a real stretch of logic, particulary in regards to the question of online poker legality.

[autobet]

yes, it has nothing to do with online poker.

[autobet]

Most states allow you to play in home card games for money.

The exact exemption that is typical is for “games played with cards in private homes or residences in which no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player.”