Poker Players Alliance Praises Chairman Franks Internet Gambling Proposal

On April 26, 2007, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), a poker organization composed of over 400,000 members, backed the proposal of House Financial Services Chairman, Frank Barney. Senator Alfonse D'Amato, the PPA Chairman of the Board, commented that the proposal by Chairman Frank is a very sensible one. Licensing and strict laws will allow officials to discern the most respectable and law abiding online sites.

The Proposal also creates a good policy which will protect underage players and addicted gamblers from ever accessing these sites. The proposal by Chairman Frank Barney will make a set of regulations which will enable banks and other financial organizations, such as credit card companies to allow transactions and process Internet Gambling related transactions, like poker.

The criteria in Chairman Frank's proposal also requires that online sites acquire age verification software, plans to help out problem gamblers and other technological capabilities. Aside from that, companies would also have to undergo monetary controls in order to prevent money laundering activities by the online sites.

Chairman D'Amato added that Americans have played poker since time immemorial. Playing online poker is simply continuing this grand tradition. He said that the age verification feature will help keep underage kids from accessing the site.

One good example of a successful Internet regulation is Britain and with the proposal of Chairman Barney, this could be achieved in the United States as well. The President of the Poker Players Alliance, Michael Bolcerek commented that unlike the UIGEA which has driven the game underground, this new legislation by Chairman Frank will push the game to the forefront and help it grow instead of destroying it.

May 13, 2007
Michael Orwell