D'Amato Speaks Out For Poker Players Alliance (PPA)

Senator Alfonse D'Amato, Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and strong advocate of Frank's Bill, expressed his views today on the current situation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). It is D'Amato's belief that the US government has no right to impose such restrictions on the American public, coming into their homes and defining what they can and cannot do in private.

According to D'Amato, the purpose of the PPA, who's members have jumped from 100,000 to 600,000+ since the UIGEA was signed, is to, "help the little guy who has been taken advantage of by the Congress when they passed a bill outlawing, effectively outlawing, the playing of poker on the Internet."

D'Amato believes the US government's attempt to prevent US citizens from participating in online poker is "ridiculous". His dedication could be felt through his words as he commented, "Everybody is going to the Internet to shop, for entertainment, etc., and here our government comes in to your home literally, and says, "Well, it's okay, we'll let you bet on horse-racing." Thank-you big brother. "We'll let you play the lottery. We'll let you play fantasy sports, but if you want to play poker, oh no! It will be a crime, because you see the credit-card facilitators will not be allowed to handle these bets."

There are three main efforts currently ongoing that D'Amato supports 110%. The first is the Internet Gambling Study proposed by Shelly Berkley, which will conclude it's popularity, it's effects on players, the ability to prevent underage participation, a complete security analysis and more. Second, Barney Frank's initiative to regulate, license and tax online gambling operations who meet strict standards of operation (prevention of underage and problem gambling, player security, etc.) by way of his proposed bill, Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. Last is Robert Wexler's ambition to have poker legally deemed a game of skill. Skill games are not considered "gambling", therefore would be exempt from the UIGEA. This particular aspect is something the PPA has been trying to prove for quite some time.