As news of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to regulate online poker makes its way through the media, the Poker Players alliance (PPA) — a leading advocacy group, a million members strong, that has long pushed for full legalization of Internet poker in the U.S. — has made a statement in support of the forthcoming legislation.
“As news stories circulate about a potential bill that would license and regulate online poker, it is important to remember that the Poker Players Alliance has been actively pursuing such legislation for more than five years,” PPA Executive Director John Pappas said in the statement.
“If nothing else, this shows that lawmakers are acknowledging what PPA has been saying all along – that Americans want to play the great game of poker in any venue they choose and they deserve to be afforded the basic consumer protections that regulation can provide.”
Pappas goes on to encourage caution, pointing out that Reid’s bill is only a draft bill, which could and probably would be altered greatly before made into law.
“While no bill will give [poker] players 100 percent of what we want and deserve, I do believe the legislation will be a victory for the poker playing community over the long-term,” Pappas went on.
“Failing a federal legislative solution, the future of Internet poker remains unpredictable. However, a regulated market that offers competition, consumer protections and clarity will undoubtedly provide the greatest benefit for the players and long-term stability to the Internet poker experience.
“With the support of millions of Americans, and a growing bipartisan contingent of lawmakers, we are optimistic that Congress can get this done before the end of the year. We urge lawmakers to take action now and not let this important opportunity be missed.”
Read more about the new online poker bill here.