The US-based Poker Player Alliance is determined to stand against any possible legislation changes when it comes to online gambling at the ongoing lame-duck session of the Congress. PPA stands against any changes even if there will be an exception for poker. The professional poker player and PPA’s executive director John Pappas expressed his concerns that there is still a chance for the Congress to vote for reforms in the online gambling regulations, which will have a negative impact on the industry.
Two years ago, there were speculations that majority leading Senator Harry Reid and minority Senate Whip Jon Kyl were pressing on for a ban on online gambling with an exception of poker. This idea did not become reality, and was mainly circulated during informal discussions. The PPA then supported any regulations that would help the legalization of online gambling, and poker in particular.
At present, most online gambling categories are intertwined together and cannot succeed separately. Currently, poker constitutes up to 20% of the online gambling profits in New Jersey.
John Pappas explained that in order for poker to thrive, it needs to be in a combination of other online gambling activities, such as video slots and Blackjack, and vice versa. He commented that “If you cut off all other games in the U.S. market, investment and interest would shrink considerably.” He admitted that poker is unlikely to thrive on its own. PPA seeks to guard the interests of poker players with all its power.
The lame-duck session is taking place at a time when the Congress is having its final days before a new Congress is chosen. The current session will probably take up till December, and during that time, lawmakers will be looking to complete any final points of their agenda, including legislation proposals for online gambling.
More busy lame-duck sessions happen when the changes in Congress are not substantial. Owner of Sands Corp, Sheldon Adelson, is probably going to press for the approval of his Restoration of America’s Wire Act legislation. Harry Reid is expected to defend the interests of Nevada’s current online poker legislation
The data processing website fivethirtyeight.com, owned by poker player Nate Silver, predicts that Republicans will have a 5% better chance over the Democrats for winning the Senate. If those numbers are true, Republicans will probably wait until they are officially elected, meaning the lame-duck session will not prompt for any last-minute changes in legislation. John Pappas is worried about what will happen in 2015: “should the Republicans take hold of the Senate and Reid is no longer the majority leader, I think that puts poker in an even more precarious position.”
