Help the PPA fight the new bills in congress aimed at banning online poker

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Join the PPA

We can’t win the fight for your poker rights without the proper financial support of the poker community. Whether you live in New Jersey, or New Mexico, being a 2014 PPA member is the smart bet for the future of the game. Join or renew today for only $15.00 and receive great benefits of membership.

Take Action: Fight Back Against Online Poker Prohibition Effort | Poker Players Alliance

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Oppose S. 2159 and H.B. 4301
Prohibition is Bad Public Policy

The Wire Act does not and should not prohibit online poker…

 On December 23 2011, after careful review of relevant case law and legislative history, the U.S.
Department of Justice (DoJ) released a memorandum clarifying their position on the Wire Act.
The DoJ found that the Wire Act does not apply to non-sports betting, thus allowing states to
consider their own legislation to license and regulate online poker.

 S. 2159 and H.B. 4301 claim to “restore” the Wire Act, yet these bills would perversely expand
the scope and intent of this law. The legislative history shows that Congress was primarily
concerned with individuals using telephones to place interstate bets on sporting events. In 1961,
sport betting was both the primary form of gambling carried out over the wires and the primary
source of revenue for organized crime gambling operations.

 The highest court to address the issue of the applicability of the Wire Act to different forms of
gaming—the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit—has held that the Wire Act
applies only to sports betting (In re MasterCard Int’l Inc., 313 F.3d 257, 262-63 (5th Cir. 2002)).

 The current DOJ interpretation of the Wire Act is the correct interpretation; and it is supported
by legal scholars, federal case law and the legislative history.
Prohibition does not work…

 S. 2159 and H.B. 4301 amount to a misguided prohibition that will not work and could have
serious unintended consequences. These bills will deny responsible, regulated companies from
operating and allow an unaccountable offshore market to flourish in the United States.
 Prohibition will not keep kids safe: only through regulation can we ensure that state of the art
age verification software is in place to identify and restrict access for minors. These safeguards
would not exist under a prohibition.

 Prohibition will not protect against problem gambling: regulation requires that online gaming
operators implement more effective and sophisticated tools to prevent and combat problem
gaming than even brick-and-mortar casinos. Prohibition requires that none of these measures
be put in place.

 Prohibition will not deter criminals: in fact, it only plays into the hands of the criminal element,
just as it did in the 1920s when alcohol was banned. It is far better for the players’ financial fate
if the safety and security of Internet gaming transactions.

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How to Schedule a Meeting with Your Member of Congress

1. Using the search tools provided by the PPA call the office of your
lawmaker closest to you. Let them know you are a constituent and
that you want to meet with your Representative/Senator or
appropriate staffer. Tell them why you want to meet to discuss S.
2159 (Senate) or H.R. 4301 (House). To help identify your
Member of Congress click here.

https://pokerplayersalliance.capwiz....ficials/?lvl=C

2. You will likely be referred to the office scheduler and they will
either arrange a meeting over the phone or ask that you submit a
written meeting request (usually via email).

3. Before your meeting review the PPA Talking Points regarding S.
2159 and H.R. 4301 [link]. And print off the entire information
packet to leave behind when you have your meeting.

4. Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled meeting to make sure
you are on time. Try your best to keep your meeting between 15-20
minutes long.

5. Be prepared to tell your poker story and why you hope the
lawmaker will oppose the Internet poker ban legislation and
instead support licensing and regulation.

6. Be courteous and respectful even if the lawmaker or staffer doesn’t
agree with your point of view. Remember a good dialog is just as
important as trying to win him/her over.

7. After you meeting, send the PPA an email to [email protected]