State law-givers briefed on Internet gambling

[jetset]

ONLINE GAMBLING PRESENTATIONS MADE TO GATHERING OF STATE LEGISLATORS

Catania and Bolcerek give state law-givers the low down

Last week's Florida Keys annual get together of the National Conference of State Legislatures had the opportunity to listen to two briefings on online gambling with particular emphasis on the poker element.

Michael Bolcerek of the 100 000 member Poker Player's Alliance and respected Internet gaming consultant, eCOGRA director and IGC board member Frank Catania both briefed delegates on the finer points of Internet gambling in an attempt to give a better understanding of the responsible side of the industry.

Although the agenda was weighted toward tribal gaming, horse racing and charitable fund raising gambling, the presentations on the online gambling and poker phenomenon were apparently listened to with interest.

Bolcerek reported that he felt his contribution had been productive: "I presented to state legislators the positive aspects of federal licensing and regulation of internet poker in the US," he said. "There remains a great deal of education of state legislators about internet poker, and I hope that this is just the first step in moving them in the right direction. I want to thank the National Counsel of Legislators from Gaming States for inviting the PPA to speak at their event, and look forward to additional discussions."

 

[Mousey]

ONLINE GAMBLING PRESENTATIONS MADE TO GATHERING OF STATE LEGISLATORS

Catania and Bolcerek give state law-givers the low down

Last week's Florida Keys annual get together of the National Conference of State Legislatures had the opportunity to listen to two briefings on online gambling with particular emphasis on the poker element.

Michael Bolcerek of the 100 000 member Poker Player's Alliance and respected Internet gaming consultant, eCOGRA director and IGC board member Frank Catania both briefed delegates on the finer points of Internet gambling in an attempt to give a better understanding of the responsible side of the industry.

.....

As always, thanks for the news, Jetset.

Excuse me? Why weren't these men handcuffed, arrested, and dragged away to jail? I'm kidding... but only a little. Of course it was listened to with interest. The Legislators were wondering how they can continue playing poker online.

 

[jetset]

I get the feeling that the PPA has decided that it stands a better chance of lobbying for a carve-out a la the horse race and lottery people, than trying to persuade American politicians that regulation is better than prohibition when it comes to online gambling generally, or that poker is not just a game of chance.

I tend to lean toward the opinion that had the online gambling industry combined a percentage of those substantial bucks that must have been made over the last decade, and judiciously ploughed this into the right political channels in the USA, we might be in a somewhat better and less besieged position than is the case today.

20/20 hindsight, I know but money seems to be the great motivator when it comes to politics and politicians.

I remain convinced that US players will not be prevented from gambling online indefinitely. The US online gambling market is way too lucrative to be ignored, and in the not too distant future I feel we will see those big American brands online in a regulated and more sensible political environment.

The demand is obviously there, and having well regulated and generously capitalised US-owned operations will be a good thing for the US player, although the odds may be a little less favourable and there will inevitably be taxation.

 

[REOdeathwagon]

While I beleive Michael Bolcereks and the PPA, have good intentions. There have been some questions raised about the transparency of the PPA.
If the PPA were to address these concerns, it could be a more positive force, for online poker players.

IIRC, the majority of the 100,000 members mentioned. Seemed to have been signed up through a Party Poker bonus promotion after the UIGEA passed.

Below, are some highlights of a 2+2 investigation into the PPA. And a link to the full analysis of that investigation, dated December 8, 2006

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Unlike most not for profit organizations that represent a large national interest group, the PPA is unusually difficult to obtain information from. It does not make information about its budgets, officer compensation, lobbying expenditures, advertising and marketing, and political agenda or strategy available to members or the public at large. The PPA's often repeated refrain that "it will try to keep poker legal" is not an adequate substitute for the full and open disclosure expected of any 501(c)(4) membership based organization. As a not for profit organization, the PPA is prohibited from allowing any part of the net earnings of the entity to inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual (26 U.S.C. S 501(c)(4)(a). However, PPA members cannot verify the organizations compliance because it has never published an annual report, or made its budget information available to its donors or members. In fact, we have not seen a disclosure or list of any individuals who were compensated for their services to the PPA.

Moreover, all not for profit organizations achieve their tax exempted status through receiving an Internal Revenue Service exemption letter. Those letters are typically made available to donors and members. The PPA has not made such a determination letter publicly available.

Our investigation of the PPAs Washington, D.C. office found a shared rented office space with a receptionist who stated that she rarely saw any PPA representatives physically at the Washington, D.C. location. Moreover, our investigative phone calls and e-mails either went unanswered or we were told the person answering the phone could not respond to our inquiry about the corporate structure or the tax deductibility of donations to the PPA.


Card Player magazine has always endorsed the PPA organization favorably.

 

[lots0]

Too little too late...

Should have been doing this years ago... Educating (Lobbying politicos) would have been a logical thing to do several years ago.

 

[winbig]

Too little too late...

Should have been doing this years ago... Educating (Lobbying politicos) would have been a logical thing to do several years ago.

There was actually a demonstration(?) in Washington about the UIGEA *before* the elections. From what I understand, the media didn't put it out until *after* the elections.

 

[lots0]

Thats not wht I meant.

I meant that the lobbying of the politicos by the overseas online casinos should have started years ago.

If lobbying would have started by the casinos three or four years ago this whole mess could have been avoided.

 

[lojo]

you are prolly right lots0

Heres what I'm gonna do, if I get it; paper and fire

pix? sure.

I'm not gonna bring a bank into this sh8t over 5 lousy roosters.
pennies, dollars, millions.