The Poker Players Alliance
Poker Web Watch 
/ Matthew Pitt / 21 July 2009 / Leave a comment
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past three years or indeed are relatively new to online poker then you will have heard about the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA as it is more commonly known.
This act was signed into law by the then President, George Bush, on Friday 13 October, 2006 and basically prohibit the transfer of funds from a financial institution to an internet gambling site, with the notable exceptions of fantasy sports, online lotteries and horse racing.
With the passing of the UIGEA, many online poker sites, Betfair Poker included, closed their doors to players from the United States of America, reducing the player base drastically and less players means less fish and therefore, potentially less profits. According to a recent study, it is thought that US players account or accounted for 75-90% of all online poker players so you can see what sort of effect the UIGEA has had on online poker.
The most predominant group that opposes this ridiculous law and is The Poker Players Alliance who are a non-profit interest group formed "to speak with one voice to promote poker, and to protect the players' rights." Their slogan, "Poker is not a crime: Join the fight" should be echoed by every single poker player throughout the world as we fight to overturn the UIGEA.
The PPA's chairman, Alfonse D'Amato was the Senator of New York for 18 years and under his guidance the PPA are official supporters of a number of acts that are designed to allow US players to play onine poker in the comfort of their homes without fear of retribution.
The first is The Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610) proposed by Robert Wexler which would provide exemption to the UIGEA of skill games such as poker, bridge and other games. They are also big supporters of The Internet Gambling Regulation Act (HR 2046) introduced by Barney Frank. This act would not only repeal the UIGEA but also open up a US market for online gambling, a market that was regulated to protect under-age players and allow the government to monitor funds transfers and tax players
They also lend their support for The Internet Gambling Study Act (HR 2140), proposed by Shelly Berkley which would provide a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of internet gambling.
Along with supporting acts like those mentioned in the text above, the PPA also have the facility to allow players and members alike to contact each of the congressmen all the 50 states to voice their concerns and views on the UIGEA. PPA representatives have also attempted to become public figures by appearing on major television networks and organise protests in Washington DC so that the plight of poker players is known to each and every American citizen.
Whilst the UIGEA does not directly affect players from Europe, South American, Asia and Oceania, we have all been indirectly affected and continue to be so on a daily basis but with the help of the Poker Players Alliance, we might just be able to get the act overturned and reopen the tables to millions of potential poker players, willing to donate at the tables.
I strongly suggest you become a member of thePPA and if you can afford to, donate a single buy-in to them so they can continue to represent the interest of the online poker players, both here and across the pond.
Related Entries
Lack of regulation in the US - Poker players concerned
The UIGEA and US Poker Players
