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PPA Parties with the Democratic Party to Legalise Poker

August 16, 2008

It appears as if the Democratic Party is going to be really having a party at their next convention. Members of congress are going to be able to listen to Kanye West sing at an all expense paid party that is being sponsored by the recording industry.

If that isn’t enough there are also many other activities attendees can participate in. If they are looking for a hot game of cards then they can play poker with Ben Affleck in a tournament being thrown by members of the Poker Players Alliance.

Since proceeds from the tournament will be going to the Paralyzed Veterans of America the Poker Lobby can foot the bill for the event. There are going to be members of the PPA, around 200 professional poker players, lawmakers, aides and delegates participating in the tournament.

The players will start out with 5,000 in chips for the four hour tournament and all of the winnings from the tournament will be donated to the veterans group. When asked about the poker tournament a spokeswoman for the alliance said that the event complies with the law, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Because proceeds will go to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the poker lobby can pick up the tab for the event and attend along with about 200 poker celebrities, lawmakers, aides and delegates. Guests will be given $5,000 worth of chips for the four-hour tournament, with the winnings going to the veterans group. A spokeswoman for the alliance says the event complies with the law.

Those wanting a more active sport can try for a home run on the Colorado Rockies team’s Coors Field courtesy of the AT&T Corporation. Just want to sit and relax at the convention, well the liquor industry has you covered. Just sit back and sip a free drink while you enjoy a cigar.

These perks should be a thing of the past since there are new ethic laws and rules that both chambers of Congress adopted in 2007 that are aimed at weakening the links between lawmakers and lobbyists. The rules included an attempt to ban corporations and lobbyists from throwing such parties for members at national political conventions.

But when the new rules went into effect lawmakers started changing the guidelines and looked for loop holes in the guidelines so they could get around them. So simply put despite changes in the rules politicians and lobbyists can still say party on as they are now getting ready to attend approximately 400 of some of the biggest parties of the year.

The Democratic Party isn’t alone in thier partying after their gathering in Colorado and the Republican party will be getting together to party the following week in St. Paul.

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    Written by Rebecca Rosales · Filed Under Casino News, Gambling Events, Online Gambling News, Poker News, UIGEA, iMega, Gambling Ban, United States Gambling Law 

    California Bill AB-2026 Amended Again To Study Online Poker

    August 7, 2008

    For anyone who knows of the AB 2026 Bill, you already know it was originally proposed as a means to study the online poker industry to determine whether it would be beneficial to legalize online poker in California. AB 2026 was then amended to skip the study process, moving straight into the legalization and regulation phase upon passage (and there was much rejoicing!) The California Senate, however, has gone topsy-turvy on us, re-amending the bill right back to its original state – to study the feasibility of legal online poker in California.

    In June, the Senate Governmental Organization Committee approved AB 2026, deemed the California Gambling Control/Intrastate online poker Legalization Act, but that’s not enough to pass the bill into law. It was then scheduled to hit the desks of the Senate Appropriations Committee in August. Had the bill passes from there, state residents were hoping to see legal online poker in California by as early as July 2009.

    Of course, that’s not what happened. The Senate instead revised the bill, flipping it back to its original position – a bill that would study the online poker industry to ascertain whether California should call upon its right, as is the rights of all individual states, to legalize online poker within the borders of California.

    The following declaration, and partial amendment of AB 2026, if not eloquently put (don’t you love legal terms?) at least gets the meaning across quite clearly: “The enactment of this act does not authorize the play of Internet poker. In enacting this act, it is merely the intent of the Legislature to have the appropriate state agencies develop a suggested structure, potential regulatory guidelines, and estimate on the amount of revenues to the State of California that may be generated by the play of Internet poker for possible consideration in the future.”

      Written by Donna Norman · Filed Under Online Gambling News, Poker News, UIGEA, iMega, Gambling Ban, United States Gambling Law 

      Online Poker Community Disgruntled By HR 6663 Proposed To Clarify UIGEA

      August 5, 2008

      According to Congressman Robert Sessions (R-Texas), his proposed bill, HR 6663, was detailed to clarify the confusing aspects of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) set forth in October of 2006. However, the bill does more than clarify the UIGEA, adding implications that the UIGEA never even mentioned - specifically the legalities of online poker.

      The online poker industry and community as a whole are very displeased with the introduction of HR 6663 – deemed the “Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Clarification and Implementation Act”. Even the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), lead by Chairman Alfonso D’Amato, have outright refused endorsement of the bill.

      HR 6663 states: “No provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed as clarifying or implying that Internet bets or wagers, other than sports bets or wagers, which were accepted subsequent to October 13, 2006, are in violation of Federal law.”

      In short – HR 6663 is aimed at defining “online sports betting” as being illegal.

      However, another area of the bill states: “Federal Internet gambling prosecutions have involved sports betting, creating a lack of authoritative court decisions on the applicability of other federal criminal statutes to Internet poker and casino-style gambling.”

      In short – A very confusing statement that leads one to believe the UIGEA deemed online poker and online casino gambling to be illegal. In all reality, the UIGEA never mention online poker or casino gambling specifically.

      By this reasoning, HR 6663 would clarify online sportsbooks and sports betting to be illegal, but would also bring up online poker and casino gambling to be illegal. Without HR 6663’s input, the UIGEA does not define any Internet gambling activity as illegal except that of sports betting.

      D’Amato stated that the PPA is “puzzled by the introduction of H.R. 6663 and by the purpose of this legislation. While we agree with several findings in the bill that correctly identify the illegality of sports wagering, the PPA remains concerned with the implication H.R. 6663 asserts in that the [UIGEA] has made Internet poker an unlawful activity that needs special protection from prosecution.

      “Previous federal case law (re: Mastercard 2002) made it clear that existing federal criminal law (WIRE Act of 1961) applies only to sports wagering, and not to internet poker. Further, the UIGEA itself states, ‘No provision of this law shall be construed as altering, limiting or extending any Federal or State law.’ Thus, H.R. 6663 only confuses a clear judicial standing on this matter.”

        Written by Donna Norman · Filed Under Online Gambling News, Poker News, UIGEA, iMega, Gambling Ban, United States Gambling Law 

        Vote To Study Online Poker Industry Postponed

        August 1, 2008

        Yesterday was the last day of the 2008 Congressional session, before adjourning for an August recess. There were several matters on their plates, namely Karl Rove, plus 12 bills due for markup. Among those bills was the Internet Gambling Study Act, officiously known as HR 2140, proposed to study the online poker and gambling industry.

        Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of Nevada proposed the Internet Gambling Study Act last year, and it has just now made its way to the markup phase in Congress. Unfortunately, the House Judiciary Committee spent the entire day discussing the Karl Rove situation, and whether he should be held in contempt. The remaining bills were set aside until the committee reconvenes in September 2008, leaving the online poker community hanging in stalemate.

        “We knew the bill was scheduled to come up, but probably wouldn’t be voted on,” stated John Pappas, Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). “It was a combination of other priorities of the House Judiciary Committee and that they weren’t 100% confident of the vote count.”

        HR 2140 requests a 1-year study of the online poker and gambling industry and the practicalities of regulating the industry in the US. The study is also intended to examine the effects of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. First proposed in May 2007, Berkley’s bill has received the most co-sponsorship of any online gambling related bill thus far, with 73 signatures.

        While the PPA is in support of HR 2140, it is not a main priority for them. I link to information regarding the bill can be found on the web site, as the PPA feels that a study of the online poker industry is a step in the right direction. However, Pappas believes enough studies have been executed, providing sufficient data to move forward with the regulation process, further proven by the fact that “developed countries have already begun to regulate internet gambling.”

          Written by Donna Norman · Filed Under Online Gambling News, Poker News, UIGEA, iMega, Gambling Ban, United States Gambling Law 

          Professor Recommends Online Poker Be Legalized

          July 31, 2008

          After an extensive study, Professor June Cotte of the University of Ontario is recommending legalization of online poker. The results of the study revealed several key issues that Cotte believes could be stamped out through regulation of the online gambling industry in the US.

          Working alongside fellow Professor Kathryn Latour of University of Nevada, the two spent a great deal of time studying the online poker industry and its effects on online gamblers. Throughout the study, 20 regular casino gamblers and 10 online gamblers were interviewed at length.

          The staggering $12-$15 billion brought in by the online gambling industry came as a surprise to Cotte, knowing the risk US players undergo to gamble over the Internet in an unregulated market. “The horse is out of the barn,” Cotte expressed in a Times magazine interview. “There are a huge amount of people doing this already.”

          A few key factors came to light during the study of online poker. Internet gamblers had a tendency to play much more frequently and aggressively, and when things weren’t going their way, often paid less attention to the amount of money they lost.

          According to the study, online gambling operators were deemed problematic. Located offshore, some of these companies occupied a legal ‘gray area’, lacking proper regulation to guarantee players security and provide a responsible gambling environment.

          Cotte believes that there are great benefits to legalizing online poker because it would grant players – who are already gambling online regardless of the risks – a regulated market. Through regulation, says Cotte, much of the harmful effects of online gambling could be controlled.

          Cotte suggested a few elements of online poker regulation, including the addition of enforcing ‘cooling-off’ periods when a player suffers significant losses. Cotte suggested a pop-up window that would warn players how much time they have spent playing online poker in a single session. The availability of online counseling was also proposed.

          In October of 2006, the US government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which re-enforced the prohibition of online gambling in the United States. Since that time, a number of studies have been executed and numerous public officials, mostly lead by Congressman Barney Frank (Mass), have fought to halt implementation of the UIEGA.

          Thus far, all attempts have failed. Perhaps, (seemingly against all odds), Cotte’s study will enlighten a few more influential individuals enough to turn things around in the US, opting for legalization and regulation of the online poker industry.

            Written by Donna Norman · Filed Under Online Gambling News, Poker News, UIGEA, iMega, Gambling Ban, United States Gambling Law 

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