Let's Organize

[Sniper]

Bump above the clutter..

[JBMSweden]

I jumped over a lot of posts so I might be repeating stuff.

Basic points;

1 - What you want to achieve is something that has been achieved in the past in a lot of European countries. Nearly all gambling within Europe used to be monopolies or oligopolies (right word in English?). The internet changed all that. VERY MUCH can be learned of how the legislation was changed with the help of interest groups, gamblers and betting companies. There is bound to be people who have been involved in that process on this forum. I personally played a small part by being the founder of the biggest swedish gambling information site (and NO, I am NOT blowing my own trumpet...besides - the US is a whole different ball game so I dont think I could contribute much anyway...). The knowledge is out there especially those who have worked towards the Scandinavian, Italian and British market.

2 - The funding COULD be gigantic if this is done the right way. The only way that gambling operators work together is when they are facing a massive external enemy (just as states work...) - in this case the US legislation. The gambling operators would definitely be willing to sponsor events, pay rolls etc etc if they think the long term goals are achievable.

3 - Obviously a whole NEW legislation would be wanted where poker is treated differently but in my view this will never happen. Poker has always and will always be part of the Casino hemisphere. Yes - it is a game of skill but not as much as chess etc etc (you know the reasoning so I am not going to bother you with that one). However - just because poker is part of the Casino hemisphere does NOT mean that it cant have its own special legislation. As far as I know every single individual game in Casinos have their own comments and legislation of proper conduct and implementation.

4 - The ORGANIZATION would have to be completely independent. No board members or people working can have ANY financial connection with any single gambling operator (allthough the funding is from gambling operators it has to be impartial and neutral). I dont even know if its advisable that book publishers or other people connected with the poker world should have anything to do with it. I think the right way forward from a legislative point of view is arguing the free trade factor and not the skill factor...(I might very well be completely wrong about this...). The organization should also monitor poker operators and gambling companies and prove that it works to legalize, monitor and safeguard the good game of poker which also means to inform of operators who are not trustworthy etc etc. This would enhance the credibility of the organization.

5 - It is going to take time and money and the organization would need trustworthy people who work with it full time and not a bunch of keen poker players who are willing to sacrifice time and money for a good cause. This has to be done professionally. Personally a dream team to me would look like this;
- an attorney with loads of experience of gambling and gambling operators (preferably someone from Vegas who have worked with or against the big casino operators)
- a couple of legal eagles with some kind of past in Washington lobbying
- former CEO, FCO or Marketing Director from one of the big European operators (Coral, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Victor Chandler etc etc) who has knowledge and experiencve of the European market in the last 10 years (where so much can be learned in my view)

Board should consist of one or two legal dinosaurs with lots of clout, someone from media with deep knowledge and even more clout than the legal dinosaurs...

I am rambling quite a bit but thats my 2 cents...

And my word I do feel sorry for all you Americans!

Anybody who is a personal friend of the next president should also be on the board...

[addictontilt]

I got it this time...bump

[addictontilt]

bump

[dangerfish]

I would be willing to offer time, money. support just point me in the right direction

[gwhiz_612]

Please lets continue this movement. This is absolutely ridiculous that we do what we want with our own money.

[Mr.K]

Hey guys & gals. Long time no see. Anyhow, I thought I'd drop in here to say I support what you're thinking about doing, and would likely join as a member if you did end up getting something together. My one remark before dissapearing back into the ether would be this: concentrate your energies on positive actions (reaching out to hospitable Members of Congress and state legislatures, raising awareness, organizing funding for pro-poker candidates) rather than negative actions (targeting for defeat key anti-poker Members of Congress, for instance). While it might be easier to gin people up for the latter, long-term success will depend more on the former -- and frankly now is the time to be thinking about the long term, since the short term is only going to get worse due to UIGEA's continuing ramifications in the U.S. market.

Good luck and glad to see Berge is still leading the forum here. At least he's successful at something, since he's one hell of a calling station at the poker table.

[cprice2]

I'm with you guys all the way. I'd definitely be up for supporting the cause if a well-organized group can be formed. Let's fight for our rights.

[cobrakai111]

Put me on any list to help with this endeavor. I've worked a few advocacy/lobbying jobs in the past so I am slightly familiar with the grassroots process (more on state level then national)

[1p0kerboy]

JBMSweeden you make some truely great points.