For a group of people who really ought to know better, the poker players bashing the PPA manage to be both extremely impatient and results oriented. Changing legislators minds about an issue is not the sort of thing that happens overnight. The success or failure of a goal like getting poker legalized needs to be measured on the scale of years or decades. The fact that it is even possible that there could be a federal bill legalizing internet poker less than a decade after UIGEA passed is clearly progress. And saying that the PPA championed a few bills that didn't end up moving forward so the PPA is useless makes about as much sense as saying that the last 3 times you played AK you missed the flop and lost money, so now you hate AK.

I don't think this is actually true. Just because FTP was willing to allow you to exchange your points for cash or things of value doesn't mean that the points have any intrinsic value. FTP was clearly free to change the contents of their FTP points store at any time, including changing the prices of the items or bonuses in the store. They could also remove the store and the ability to exchange points entirely. As a business they were highly unlikely to do so because it would have really pissed off their customers, but I don't think there would have been a legal problem with them canceling the points (or medals or whatever) program at any point without allowing customers to cash them in.

That being said I certainly hope that the DOJ includes the value of points in the remission process, I just don't think there is any argument that they (or Stars or anyone else) would be legally required to do so.

Of course every thread on the PPA has to bring out the cynics and haters. The common thread between all of those cynics is they haven't done their research on the topic and probably don't participate themselves in the daily action plan and see the updates on the situation and the politicians that have acknowledged us.

Thanks for your work Rich, keep it up!

Thanks Rich, and all the PPA, for this and your continued efforts!

The haters gonna hate no matter what happens! Even when we achieve our ultimate goal they will complain about something!

Cheers Scoot excellent post

Are you guys considering unused tournament tickets "non-cash items"? I know I have over $1000 in these from grinding step tournaments and I'm pretty sure they have a dollar amount written on them. I figured they would just be added to my balance before I get my money...

Nice to see my ppa donations being put to good use.

Tomorrow I plan on being a 3 time donator! (In lieu of my non activism in the action plans) Hopefully when I get my check from the doj I can donate again.

Excellent work guys!

I consider it all cash. The question is not what I think or what PPA thinks, unfortunately. It's what the DoJ thinks, and that's not as clear. We're doing our part to explain all of this to them.

Thanks to DrewonTilt, Aggo, DirtyLo, Scooter, Uhasmymoney, NewNick, Spooney, McCrowley, Syck, Verneer, Sajeffe, and everyone else ITT who conveyed words of kindness and encouragement regarding my personal efforts and the efforts of the community here! It's much appreciated!

What makes you think all these changes we've seen over the past few years -- changes that have come to online poker but not to online casino gaming or online sports betting -- have nothing to do with the efforts of the poker community to advocate for ourselves? Do you base this on anything beyond the random thoughts that pop into your head while sitting in your living room?

The IRS treats airline points as a rebate on the amount spent by the consumer on airline tickets. Or, in the case of bonus points awarded for things like opening a bank account, the points are treated as taxable income by the IRS.

FTP points should be looked at the same way, imo - a rebate of the rake paid, due to the player.

The two children my wife and I have had since black friday can't wait to spend this money! Got stacks of medical bills just sitting on the counter.

Twins? If not, then that's impressive work.

Either way, congrats!

good move

hope it works out well

I know 2 lobbyist's, unfortunately.