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Charity Poker Tournament / PPA
PPA/Beauty and the Bet/ charity poker tournament
The Poker Players Alliance is proud to be supporting a special fundraising event sponsored by the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers.
OnDecember 1st, the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers in association with 11-time WSOP Champion Phil Hellmuth and the Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas present Beauty and the Bet, a charity poker tournament to benefit the families of fallen officers.
The buy-in for the Main Event is $500 with 50% of the tournament proceeds paid to the winners' pool, and the other 50%, net of tournament expenses, going to the families of fallen police officers through the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers (a tax exempt 501c3). Additional prize opportunities include a chance to win two tickets to Super Bowl XLII and the exclusive Playboy's Super Saturday Night Party. For complete details click here.
Plus, simply type PPA in the Company box on the registration form, and you will automatically be entered into a PPA Raffle to win a PPA Poker Table. The more PPA members that register for the event, the more great prizes added to the Raffle.
- Over 10 registrations, a free $500 seat for a friend
- Over 25 registrations, a free upgrade to the exclusive $2,500 buy-in event.
To be a part of this PPA Raffle, you must register before midnight of Nov.28th.
About the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers:
In the fall of 2004 TASER International and its employees established the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers. This 501c(3) charitable organization honors the service and sacrifice of fallen law enforcement officers from the United States and Canada by providing financial and educational support to their families. To date, the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers has awarded over $1.5 million to 470 families of fallen officers through fundraising events and personal donations.
House frustrated with UIGEA exceptions
House frustrated with UIGEA exceptions
The House JudiciaryCommittee didn't signal whether it was interested in repealing Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), but it did voice its frustration with inconsistent nature of gambling laws and prosecution at a House hearing Wednesday.
The Democratic chairman of the committee, John Conyers, openly questioned the "selective enforcement" of anti-gambling laws. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) to her criticism a step further.
"The laws regarding Internet gaming are absurd and inconsistent," Berkley said. "And the UIGEA has made things worse, targeting the financial sector and creating a hypocritical carve out for horse betting."
Berkley also blasted the government's decision to remove online gambling from its WTO commitments.
"It's the trade equivalent of taking our ball and going home," Berkley said before noting the U.S. is now on the hook for a substantial amount of money as a result of that decision.
Berkley would like to see Internet gambling regulated in the U.S., and has proposed conducting a study that would provide Congress data to help make that decision.
Opponents of online gambling, meanwhile, tried to keep the focus of the hearing on problem gambling, protecting youths and state's rights.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) called Internet gambling "fronts for money laundering and terrorists." He also said that gambling online leads to addictive gambling and claimed that children can play online without having their ages verified.
But the most interesting testimony came from U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway. Hanaway, representing the Department of Justice, noted that it was legal for American players to place bets online, but that it was illegal of casino operators to accept those bets.
Hanaway also said repeatedly that "all online gambling is illegal." But she did note that the DOJ had not seen a case in which online gambling was used to launder anything other than gambling winnings.
The two funniest moments in the hearing came during question and answer sessions. Deep into the session, Family Research Council Vice President Tom McClusky admitted that his organization wasn't just opposed to online gambling, but all forms of gambling, At that point, Rep. Stephen Cohen (D-Tenn.) was asked McClusky if he "was opposed to all forms of fun."
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) provided the other humorous moment when he said that there was no wagering in fantasy sports and that's why America's youths are allowed to participate in it. No one in the chamber chose to laugh, but the absolute silence that followed that statement spoke volumes.
PPA Action Alert to all Mass. Members
| [MA] PPA Action Alert to all Mass. Members by Poker Players Alliance |
H.4307 (i) Placing, sending, transmitting, relaying wagers to another person prohibited under certain circumstances; penalties.
Recently, Governor Deval Patrick proposed a bill (H.4307, click here to read) that seeks to expand casino gambling in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This bill also includes a proposition that would make it a crime for you to play poker on the Internet (See: Section 15(h)(2)(i)). Under this provision, violators will be subject to a maximum term of 2 years in the house of correction, a fine of $25,000, or both. Ironically, H.4307 is pro-casino gambling legislation, yet it makes Internet gaming a crime. This is an unacceptable double-standard!
The Poker Players Alliance is committed to assisting Massachusetts poker players by bringing attention to this attack on our rights; however, we cannot do this alone. We need your help and are asking that you send letters to Governor Deval Patrick, your local State Representative and your State Senator. We have provided a standard letter which will automatically be sent to the above politicians. We encourage you to personalize the letter by adding your own comments. We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to make your voice heard.
Protect poker and send your letter today by clicking here.
We will update you on this situation as information becomes available to us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ma@pokerplayersalliance.org.
All In,
Randy Castonguay
Poker Players Alliance Massachusetts State Director
Section 15(h)(2)(i)
Any person who knowingly transmits or receives a wager of any type by any telecommunication device, including telephone, cellular phone, Internet, local area network, including wireless local networks, or any other similar device or equipment or other medium of communication, or knowingly installs or maintains said device or equipment for the transmission or receipt of wagering information shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both.
Poker Players Alliance: News and Articles
| [PPA] Report from Executive Director John Pappas |
First, I am pleased to announce that Rep. John Conyers (MI) Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has agreed to co-sponsor H.R. 2046, the Skill Game Protection Act. Further, his Committee officially announced today that they are holding a hearing next week (Nov. 14th) to discuss Internet gaming issues. Both of these considerable achievements can be in a large part credited to our grassroots fly-in from just two weeks ago. During the fly-in we had more than one occasion to meet with the Chairman and explain our issues. He was so impressed with our arguments that he asked Annie Duke to testify at the Committee hearing. While the other witnesses have not been made public at this time, I can tell you that there will be experts to discuss the WTO, age-verification, the proposed regulations and problem gambling. Click here for more info on the hearing, we encourage our members who live in the Washington, D.C. area to attend.
Next, I would like to discuss some of our grassroots success. Last Friday the PPA sent a note to our members in the state encouraging them to write the Governor to oppose the state gambling bill language which would criminalize residents for playing Internet poker. With the hard work and leadership of Randy C (our PPA MA state rep) more than 1700 letters have been sent to State Reps, State Senators and the Governor in less than a week. This voice has been heard and recognized by these legislators, and they understand that this voice will not go away until the onerous provision is removed. Randy C will continue to update you on the progress of this campaign.
The PPA can also claim success in the defeat of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, whose staunch anti-gambling position, as well as a host of other issues lead to his crushing double-digit defeat. The PPA’s efforts were highlighted in a Louisville Courier Journal column on the day before the election (click here) and the Governors staff acknowledged that they has received several calls, letters and emails from PPA members expressing their displeasure. Special thanks to TheEngineer for being instrumental in the organization of our effort.
On the regulation front, the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE), an independent organization that regularly offers Congress objective analysis of proposed governmental agency regulations, released a report this week that noted significant problems with the UIGEA regulations recently submitted by the Treasury Department. They are extremely influential in Washington regulatory circles and the PPA is pleased with their enlightened view of the onerous regulation. Click here to go to their filing.
On the media front, the WTO issue is beginning to crystallize on Capitol Hill. This week two articles of note appeared, one in The Bureau of National Affairs and the other in Roll Call. Both articles specifically call for the Barney Frank Bill as a fix to one of the most daunting cases the WTO has ever faced … a case which could have far reaching and unintended consequences for the U.S. These articles were especially important as lead EU trade officials were here in DC this week to discuss this very issue! We are doing our very best to make sure members of Congress are aware of what is going on, and just how important this case could become.
On Tuesday night this week, Horton's Kid's a local DC charity that helps inner city kids, threw a Charity poker tournament at the National Building Museum, and it was a rousing success. With the PPA as its largest supporting donor for the event, Horton's Holiday Hold ‘Em event raised $300,000 all of which goes directly to the charity. More than 220 Congressional staff, members of Congress, lobbyists and poker enthusiasts had a great time playing poker with PPA Board Member Greg Raymer and Chairman Alfonse D’Amato. It was a great event which once again highlighted the unique power of poker. As an added bonus, a PPA member from DC won the event and received a $10,000 2008 WSOP Main Event seat for his efforts.
This has been another exciting week for poker, with many more to come.
Online Poker Community Urged to Send Question
Poker community, supporters of Ron Paul, prompted to submit YouTube video for debated regarding UIGEA passage and freedom of Internet
The CNN/YouTube Republican debate is taking place on November 28. The format, which included a video of a talking snowman that left Republican Mitt Romney not amused, was an instant hit with the rest of the nation. This CNN/YouTube debate is expected to be an even bigger hit.
Back in October 0f 2006, a Republican led initiative passed through the infamous Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) attached to none other than an unrelated (and highly important) Port Security Bill. Due to the urgency in passing the Port Security Bill, the UIGEA - by default - would eventually come into law. It should be noted that many Democrats also voted in favor of the Port Security bill while expressing reservations about the unrelated attachment.
The poker community eventually forced one of the UIGEA's co-founders out of office, Republican Jim Leach of Iowa. He was a front runner in that race until fans of online poker banded together in a campaign to educate Iowa voters about their elected official's activities, designed heavily to appeal to special interests.
The UIGEA essentially makes online poker illegal by placing the burden on banking institutions to monitor and prohibit such transactions.
Scott Shuller, a poker fan out of Ohio who is one of many business executives floored by the passage of this new law, has asked that all fans of poker submit a short video to CNN related to the UIGEA and what gives politicians the right to police our activities over the Internet (especially as it pertains to America's favorite past time).
"Wouldn't it be great if they aired a question about the UIGEA or Online Poker during the debate?" commented Shuller. "Really put them (the political candidates) on the spot."
Of the 2008 US Presidential Republican candidates appearing, only Ron Paul voted against the Port Security Bill, mainly because it attached the unrelated piece of legislation that he opposes.
“I believe strongly that the internet should not be regulated by the federal government and believes even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions," Ron Paul told Gambling911.com's own Kira Wissman this past summer.
“The majority of people in Washington were afraid to support the internet for fear it would label them ‘pro-porn’ or ‘pro-gambling’.”
Because the YouTube debate generates interests mostly from an Internet-savvy audience, the question would most certainly be relevant.
Several hundred, or even a few thousand, people submitting such a question would prompt CNN to include the subject within its platform.
Likewise, Ron Paul supporters are being urged to submit a similar question as it would help solidify their candidate's "Internet freedom" message.
"Just want to help this industry and keep it chugging away," Shuller said. "The message should be spread by every fan of poker and online gambling in general."
You may not want to use a talking snowman for your video.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Originally published November 8, 2007 10:57 am ET