PPA Lobbying Against Anti-Online Poker Bills

The Poker Players Alliance is strongly opposed to two bills that federal lawmakers introduced to ban online poker. John Pappas, Director of the PPA, recently released a video discussing the group's progress and some of the steps other online poker advocates can take.

Pappas and other PPA leaders are encouraging people to voice their concerns to their congressional leaders. The PPA has a webpage that allows people to send a prefilled email to their congressmen. Pappas also stated that people can reach out to elected officials via Twitter and other social networking sites.

The PPA is also using the new bills to gain new members. Their webpage states that players can join the organization for only $15. Pappas said that joining the PPA is an effective way to promote online poker in the United States.

The PPA states that the industry needs to garner as much support as possible. They said that the anti-online gambling bills are backed by Sheldon Adelson, one of the wealthiest men in the world. Adelson has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to GOP representatives such as Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the sponsors of the two bills.

While the PPA is lobbying against the two bills, some lawmakers are confident that the bills won't be passed. New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak said that the federal government is unlikely to ban online gambling after three states have already legalized it. However, some lawmakers fear that either of the bills may be passed, which would force New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware to disband their online gambling industries.

The PPA and many other groups don't want to be too optimistic. The PPA is working with the Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection and other groups that support online gambling. They are confident that they can gain the support needed to prevent Graham and Chaffetz's bills from being passed.