Poker Players Alliance and PocketFives Team Up To Stop Online Gaming Ban

15 June 2006

On May 25, 2006, the House Judiciary Committee approved the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, a bill that would essentially eliminate the online gambling industry in the United States. This would include eliminating online poker, a game of skill. Supported by Representative Bob Goodlatte (news, bio, voting record) (R-VA) and Senator John Kyl (R-AZ), the bill has caused great controversy across the industry. The question still remains as to when the bill will be voted on, but in the meantime, PocketFives and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) have teamed up to try and thwart these efforts.

PocketFives (www.pocketfives.com) is home to more than 14,000 online poker players, both amateur and professional. Billed as The Online Poker Authority, PocketFives represents the online player. On Thursday, June 15, 2006, PocketFives and the PPA are sponsoring Write Your Congressmen Day. On that day, PocketFives encourages everyone to visit www.pocketfives.com to e-mail their Congressmen and voice their disapproval of the online gambling prohibition legislation. "If everyone e-mails their Congressmen on the same day, our objection will not go unnoticed," says Cal Spears, President of PocketFives.com. "The flood of e-mails into Congressional inboxes may force some of our elected officials to change their thinking on the bill to curb online poker in the United States." The service is completely free and will be easily accessible from the site�s home page.

The PPA (www.pokerplayersalliance.org), who will provide both the e-mail system and media outreach for the event, "is dedicated to promoting and protecting America�s favorite pastime," poker. The PPA emphasizes the difference between online gambling, based on chance, and online poker, a game of skill. PPA President Michael Bolcerek will headline PocketFives� weekly online radio show, the Podcast, on June 15. That edition will also feature a major face in the online poker world, to be named Tuesday, June 13th. Both will rally support for the Write Your Congressmen Day.

"We are very excited to have the PPA�s involvement in our cause. It�s very rare that you see a grassroots effort like the one we are trying to launch. We hope online poker players and anyone affected by this legislation across the country will visit www.pocketfives.com and write their Congressmen," says Spears. The event marks the second effort by the site to promote activity against the bill; PocketFives had Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) on its Podcast several weeks ago to discuss his thoughts on the measure: "I think [the legislation is a great infringement on liberty. When it comes to an individual decision on how to spend your own time and money, that�s not my position. That�s not my business. I am skeptical of people who want to protect people from themselves."

"This bill can cripple the vast majority of our members from the playing the game they love," claims Spears. "We are trying to drum up support across every poker site, every newspaper, every magazine, and every gambling �related site in order to stop the bill. Please use our site�s e-mail feature to write your Congressmen on Thursday, June 15th." Many of PocketFives� members make a large portion of their income from online poker, and the bill jeopardizes theirs and the site�s livelihood. The site hopes to protect the interests of the online poker player.

For more information about the PocketFives and PPA Write Your Congressmen Day on June 15th, visit www.pocketfives.com.

PocketFives.com is a website dedicated to the discussion and advancement of online poker, based in Nashville, Tennessee. It has over 13,000 members and includes public discussion forums, exclusive content written by some of online poker�s biggest superstars, a player database where members can learn about their peers, and a weekly half-hour online radio show. For interview requests, please contact Dan Cypra at (615) 292-7016.

OPN Staff

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