Comments on: Democrats Take Control - UIGEA Still in Force http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/ Bill Rini's Poker Weblog Fri, 9 Jan 2009 18:29:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Gene Bromberg » Blog Archive » What The Hell Is Going On Around Here? http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-136201 Gene Bromberg » Blog Archive » What The Hell Is Going On Around Here? Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:02:46 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-136201 [...] As Bill said the other day, the election results on Tuesday were very good news–but they came AFTER the UIGEA was passed. That law is still in effect. Now is not the time to relax and think that, eventually, someone will step up and get the law reversed or poker legalized. We can’t sit on our hands and hope the big corporate players work together to get this done. We still have a part to play in this. There’s still a lot of work to be done. In fact, the work hasn’t even started yet. [...] [...] As Bill said the other day, the election results on Tuesday were very good news–but they came AFTER the UIGEA was passed. That law is still in effect. Now is not the time to relax and think that, eventually, someone will step up and get the law reversed or poker legalized. We can’t sit on our hands and hope the big corporate players work together to get this done. We still have a part to play in this. There’s still a lot of work to be done. In fact, the work hasn’t even started yet. [...]

]]> By: Bill http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-85215 Bill Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:11:22 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-85215 Jordan, Well, I'm not sure that was the message I was hoping you would take away. The online poker rooms (okay, one or two and not the ones still accepting US players) did pay for lobbying Congress. In fact, Jack Abramoff was quite successful at killing anti-gambling bills that came up in the past. Online poker sites are going to continue to lobby but if the past is any indication, they aren't going to invite you or me to help. The PPA is the player's represenation. As you note, an underfunded and powerless entity is little better than no entity. However, you'll note in my post I said one of the things that needs to happen is that the PPA needs to get some name corporate sponsors on board. I want to see MGM pony up $100,000. I want to see Harrah's kick in $100,000. At this point I think the PPA has done a good job with the cards they've been dealt. Now is the time for them to kick it up a notch though. They need to go after big money and really take it to the next level. There are only 2 - 3 million hard core Christian fundamentalist votes out there. If you can counter that with 5 million poker players who will bury you unless you get on the online poker bandwagon, then we actually have a shot of a regulated poker carve out. And really, for $20 are you really that tight that you can't give them the benefit of the doubt? Bill Jordan,

Well, I’m not sure that was the message I was hoping you would take away. The online poker rooms (okay, one or two and not the ones still accepting US players) did pay for lobbying Congress. In fact, Jack Abramoff was quite successful at killing anti-gambling bills that came up in the past.

Online poker sites are going to continue to lobby but if the past is any indication, they aren’t going to invite you or me to help. The PPA is the player’s represenation.

As you note, an underfunded and powerless entity is little better than no entity. However, you’ll note in my post I said one of the things that needs to happen is that the PPA needs to get some name corporate sponsors on board. I want to see MGM pony up $100,000. I want to see Harrah’s kick in $100,000.

At this point I think the PPA has done a good job with the cards they’ve been dealt. Now is the time for them to kick it up a notch though. They need to go after big money and really take it to the next level. There are only 2 - 3 million hard core Christian fundamentalist votes out there. If you can counter that with 5 million poker players who will bury you unless you get on the online poker bandwagon, then we actually have a shot of a regulated poker carve out.

And really, for $20 are you really that tight that you can’t give them the benefit of the doubt?

Bill

]]> By: Jordan from HighOnPoker http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-85212 Jordan from HighOnPoker Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:57:03 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-85212 Bill, you just hit it right on the nose: "the PPA is the best candidate...unless someone is going to step up to the plate with a few million." That says it all. Really, its the poker rooms themselves that need to get in on the lobbying efforts. Taking $20 from a bunch of players in exchange for, lets say $5 in gifts like the t-shirt, assuming good cost, is nothing. $1.5 Million won't pay the PPA's staffing and overhead probably. It seems like the PPA is a losing proposition for players. I know I sound cynical and PPA might be the best thing going, but the best thing going isn't worth crap if its underfunded and powerless. It just sounds like a money pit into which players can throw their dough. Where are the poker rooms with their millions of dollars of daily revenue? That's the real party that should be funding the PPA or a similar organization. Bill, you just hit it right on the nose: “the PPA is the best candidate…unless someone is going to step up to the plate with a few million.” That says it all. Really, its the poker rooms themselves that need to get in on the lobbying efforts. Taking $20 from a bunch of players in exchange for, lets say $5 in gifts like the t-shirt, assuming good cost, is nothing. $1.5 Million won’t pay the PPA’s staffing and overhead probably. It seems like the PPA is a losing proposition for players. I know I sound cynical and PPA might be the best thing going, but the best thing going isn’t worth crap if its underfunded and powerless. It just sounds like a money pit into which players can throw their dough. Where are the poker rooms with their millions of dollars of daily revenue? That’s the real party that should be funding the PPA or a similar organization.

]]> By: Bill http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84645 Bill Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:40:13 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84645 Jordan, While I wish the PPA had done (or been able to do) more, I've spoken to PPA president, Michael Bolcerek, and exchanged emails with him and I do believe that they are working to do the right thing. Unfortunately, when the bill was passed they only had about 120,000 members. At $20 a head that's only $2.4 million. Take away the free t-shirt, membership card, etc. and they're probably only working with about $1.5 million (this is a total guess). That's chump change compared to the folks we're up against. We, as a group, need a single organization that acts as a clearning house for lobbying money. The community is too small to have three or four organizations all trying to do the same thing. With 120,000 members (or whatever it is now) the PPA is the best candidate to act in that capacity unless someone is going to step up to the plate wiht a few million out of their own pocket. Bill Jordan,

While I wish the PPA had done (or been able to do) more, I’ve spoken to PPA president, Michael Bolcerek, and exchanged emails with him and I do believe that they are working to do the right thing. Unfortunately, when the bill was passed they only had about 120,000 members. At $20 a head that’s only $2.4 million. Take away the free t-shirt, membership card, etc. and they’re probably only working with about $1.5 million (this is a total guess). That’s chump change compared to the folks we’re up against.

We, as a group, need a single organization that acts as a clearning house for lobbying money. The community is too small to have three or four organizations all trying to do the same thing. With 120,000 members (or whatever it is now) the PPA is the best candidate to act in that capacity unless someone is going to step up to the plate wiht a few million out of their own pocket.

Bill

]]> By: Bill http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84638 Bill Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:30:56 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84638 Drizz, They could make a carve out for poker. A bill could be passed that exempts online poker from the UGIEA. Bill Drizz,

They could make a carve out for poker. A bill could be passed that exempts online poker from the UGIEA.

Bill

]]> By: Drizztdj http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84634 Drizztdj Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:09:23 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84634 Is a repel of the UIGEA even possible? If so, how does it get done? Is a repel of the UIGEA even possible?

If so, how does it get done?

]]> By: Jordan from HighOnPoker http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84633 Jordan from HighOnPoker Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:05:29 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84633 Bill, you are a knowledgeable guy. Do you have any idea what the PPA has done so far, besides collecting money? I distrust politicians, but I also distrust groups like the PPA. I haven't seen anything worthwhile about them yet, other than a bunch of people encouraging me to Sign up for the PPA and Save Online Poker! Any insight would be greatly appreciated, because I don't want to knock the PPA if they are, in fact, a useful organization. Bill, you are a knowledgeable guy. Do you have any idea what the PPA has done so far, besides collecting money? I distrust politicians, but I also distrust groups like the PPA. I haven’t seen anything worthwhile about them yet, other than a bunch of people encouraging me to Sign up for the PPA and Save Online Poker! Any insight would be greatly appreciated, because I don’t want to knock the PPA if they are, in fact, a useful organization.

]]> By: BSN http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84613 BSN Thu, 09 Nov 2006 11:12:08 +0000 http://www.billrini.com/2006/11/08/democrats-take-control-uigea-still-in-force/#comment-84613 Great post, Bill. I agree the studies are needed to determine the impact UIGEA had on the Leach race. We can scream all we want, but data is what will make the case. Great post, Bill. I agree the studies are needed to determine the impact UIGEA had on the Leach race. We can scream all we want, but data is what will make the case.

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