Written by Fair Play USA Enters The Game
As ever more states look seriously at the possibility of legalising some form of online gaming
within their borders, the pressure steadily mounts on federal lawmakers to take action before the number of states passing their own laws reached a critical mass.
The main advocate of poker player’s rights since 2005 has been the Poker Players Alliance, under the leadership of John Pappas. Several weeks ago, a new group was formed – Fair Play USA – a non-profit organisation set up purely to advance the cause of online gaming in the United States.
Fair Play USA’s main concern currently is that online poker players are forced to play in an insecure environment due to lack of any consumer protection. They also raise the scenario of illegal online poker sites run by criminal organisations. Playing poker online for money is not technically illegal in the Unites States so why don’t these citizens have adequate protection? There’s also the question of huge losses of tax revenue, something which the USA could well do with right now.
The organisation mandates a range of well-thought out policies which would include provision for taxing online gaming, removing illegal sites and player protection. The whole list is below:
It’s worth mentioning also that this is not just a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs with no campaigning experience, it’s advisors include the following three hard hitters:
Tom Ridge – former first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security following the post’s creation after 9/11. A man who now runs his own risk management company and an organisational expert.
Parry Aftab – a lawyer and consumer safety expert, particularly in the field of internet safety. She wrote ‘A Parents Guide to the Internet’, one of the first such publications and is a sought after keynote speaker at internet safety and security conferences.
Greg Raymer – poker pro, former WSOP Main Event bracelet winner and outstanding tournament player who now also teached poker theory at the WSOP Academy.
One could argue that if these big hitters can’t get the government moving on some sensible legislation, then who can.
