Posts Tagged ‘Poker Legislation’
Florida Poker Players Rights in Jeopardy
March 8th, 2010 | 
Author: THIS is LONG, but it is IMPORTANT! If you live and play poker in Florida, please read and take action.
Florida poker players must take action, NOW! Following is an email I sent this morning to my state House Representative asking that he NOT support the proposed Florida HB 1441, which is an effort to establish licensed and regulated intra-state Internet poker in Florida.
Following is the email I sent to my Florida House Representative this morning. Feel free to use it as a model for your email:
"I am a voter and a poker player who lives in your state House district. I care about my right to play online poker and I am very concerned about HB 1441, Internet Poker Consumer Protection & Revenue Generation Act of 2010, which if passed would restrict my rights as a consumer and a poker player.
While I support efforts to license and regulate Internet poker, such as those being debated in the U.S. Congress, I am troubled that the legislation being discussed in Florida would limit my online choices and create an anti-competitive monopoly for Internet poker in this state. This is not only troubling for me as a consumer, but it would be disastrous for the state. The undesirable monopoly model will not attract the critical mass of players needed to generate the expected revenue for Florida. Instead, any state legislation should find a way to capitalize on the current, robust marketplace of Internet poker sites to maximize revenue while at the same time providing the strong consumer protections afforded through regulation.
I respectfully ask you to carefully consider my objections to HB 1441, and I look forward to hearing about your position."
If you want more, the following came from Poker Players Alliance this morning:
"First, what does “intra-state” poker mean? Today, when you play online poker you compete with other players from across the United States and the world. Essentially, you are part of a global network of millions of poker players. Under Florida bill HB 1441, your access would become limited to poker games only with other Florida residents. Ultimately, this means fewer players, fewer games, fewer stakes/limits and less opportunity for you to play poker how you want, when you want.
Of equal concern, HB 1441 would seek to eliminate play on the various Internet poker brand-names you know and play with today and replace them with a state-controlled monopoly provider of Internet poker in Florida. So, not only would you have less players to test your poker skills against, but you would be forced to play on the state-sanctioned, Florida-only, poker network. From a consumer standpoint this is a definite step in the wrong direction: it limits choice, destroys the competitive marketplace and dramatically reduces the need to provide player incentives like rakeback and bonuses.
To be clear, the PPA does not oppose State-based licensing and regulation of Internet poker. We strongly believe that a regulated marketplace will provide a better experience for the Internet player. In fact, that is why we have invested so much time and so many resources to push the U.S. Congress to enact a sensible federal policy of licensing and regulation. We are concerned, however, when state proposals like the one being contemplated in Florida seek to cut Internet players off from the rest of the world and limit their choice in the marketplace.
What You Can Do!
Florida poker players must let their elected officials know where they stand. Please take these two very important actions now by calling and emailing your state House Representative."
Poker Players Alliance Director, John Pappas, Testifies in Florida
DATELINE: February 16, 2010 – Florida Senate Committee Hearing
Poker History Made with UIGEA Extension
Poker history made yesterday, November 27, 2009: The United States Federal Reserve and Department of Treasury delayed the implementation by six months of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) regulations. What does that mean for poker?
It gives legislators extra times to clarify this vague law and to pass legislation to license and regulate poker early in 2010. Is that important to us as poker players. Absolutely! It may be the impetus to finally regulate online poker in the United States.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said he thinks the extension of six months rather than the requested year could actually help poker's cause. It may provide a sense of urgency to those in Congress who support the licensing and regulation of the Internet poker industry.
How did this all come about? Primarily through the efforts of the Poker Players Alliance, the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide. Frankly, this is a model to all Americans that when we stand together and make our voices heard, our government will listen.
Online poker created a new industry: If there is one major industry directly responsible for the poker boom, it is online poker. Think about this. Couple the millions of players that learned how to play the game online starting in 1998, with the impact of the televised final tables of the World Poker Tour first airing in 2002, and we have a new industry that effectively sprang up overnight.
Frankly, legislation like the UIGEA, which strikes fear in our hearts, is one of the reasons our economy has suffered over the last three years. Within the online poker industry, there are billions of dollars of untapped business tax revenues. Where would the United States economy be today if we had had the benefit of those tax dollars over the last 11 years?
Poker history in review: In 2006, the UIGEA became law by default. Some say legislatures debated the issue over the previous ten years; however, no one can deny that the UIGEA became law because it was tacked onto another piece of legislation that is called 'must pass' legislation. The mule, so to speak, was the Safe Port Act, dealing with protecting our ports from terrorism; it was voted on the night before Congress adjourned prior to the 2006 mid-term elections. Does that make you squint your eyes and say, "Hmmm?"
Poker players call to action: If you are not already a member of Poker Players Alliance, go right now to thePPA.org and join. You can join free or become a premium member for a small $20.00 donation.
Please join Poker Players Alliance now. Go to thePPA.org
Thank you,
Donna Blevins
Poker Coach
