FairPlayUSA discussion

[FairPlayUSA]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRy

I hope FairPlay can take the time to answer these questions.

We really need it on record from day 1 if there's going to be hesitant support, full support or just lip service here. FairPlay, I think you'll find the forum ready to throw a lot of support behind you if you're truly here for the players.

We are getting quite a few questions...We are working on it.

[FairPlayUSA]

Originally Posted by Doc T River

So if someone doesn't share your view exactly, they aren't welcome?

No, not at all. We are happy to have everyone who supports regulation of online poker onboard so we can all play! The question for you is if you want to support us given that we may differ on a few points.

[Troveur]

Originally Posted by FairPlayUSA

FairPlayUSA is a non-profit grassroots campaign

Lets get 1 thing straight--you are not a grassroots operation. You are a astroturf group funded by Ceasars/MGM (as you have already admitted) that want to pretend they come from a grassroots campaign.

Any bills that may be advocated by this group will 100% be in the big casinos interest first and foremost. Clearly any player interests that may conflict or oppose casino interests will be ignored.

[caseycjc]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRy

I hope FairPlay can take the time to answer these questions.

We really need it on record from day 1 if there's going to be hesitant support, full support or just lip service here. FairPlay, I think you'll find the forum ready to throw a lot of support behind you if you're truly here for the players.

This

[rocketragz]

Please don't let your ego's in the way when dealing with the individuals you are trying to help. I appreciate the hard work put forth by some of the PPA on these forums, but have lost touch with them as their ego's have gotten in the way. IMO

[DrewOnTilt]

Originally Posted by Troveur

Lets get 1 thing straight--you are not a grassroots operation. You are a astroturf group funded by Ceasars/MGM (as you have already admitted) that want to pretend they come from a grassroots campaign.

Any bills that may be advocated by this group will 100% be in the big casinos interest first and foremost. Clearly any player interests that may conflict or oppose casino interests will be ignored.

This new organization absolutely must address this perception. I tacitly support any pro-poker effort, but I will withold full support until I get a solid response to this.

[Do it Right]

Would you support an otherwise fair and reasonable bill that allowed reputable companies, including but not exclusively limited to casinos, to obtain a license for offering online poker in the US? In other words a bill that affords casinos no particular competitive edge over other US businesses that would like to offer online poker.

[LT22]

Is the banking industry on-board with your organization? If not, are you attempting to get them on-board?

[Greg (FossilMan)]

Originally Posted by LetsGambool

Or vice versa, but yes, I think we need to figure out if this is an organization that cares about players interests or one that wants to co-opt players support as cover and marginalize the PPA.

Greg being involved is obviously encouraging.

Thanks for the kind words. When approached by FP, I had many of the concerns expressed in this thread. But I dug into it with them, and also spoke to my friends at the PPA. And the PPA and I both decided that there was plenty of room for allies in this fight, and that this new organization was going to be very helpful in getting good legislation passed.

FP is not looking to co-opt player support or marginalize the PPA. However, FP does want player support, and we want to work as an ally of the PPA in getting the right bill through Congress and signed by the President. To get things done in Washington, you can never go it alone. FP is one more ally to all of us who want to see online poker licensed and regulated by the USA.

Thanks, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[FairPlayUSA]

Originally Posted by novahunterpa

http://fairplayusa.com/about-us

The 10 principles seem to be spot on IMO, and are the kind of things that the public and lawmakers will expect and could support.

Thanks! We really hope so.

[sluggger5x]

Can we get a link xposted to this thread in NVG? I think it is important that 2p2ers who aren't actively discussing legislation be informed of this new organization.

[FairPlayUSA]

Originally Posted by RollWave

1. Do you fully or partially support the Barton Bill in its current form?
---1a. Are there any changes that must be made to earn your full support?
---1b. Are there any changes that you would like to see made, even if they are not 'must haves'?


2. Your principle 9 states "Allow states to capture much-needed revenue from a licensed, regulated, federal poker network." - Does legislation need to have specific tax revenues included to earn your support?
---2a. Would it satisfy you if online poker sites merely paid normal corporate income tax like any other company, and did not owe any additional gambling related taxes?

RE #1 - FairPlayUSA has not endorsed the Barton Bill or any other current legislation. We will be focused on educating the public and policy makers about the need to clarify existing federal laws on Internet gambling, to provide law enforcement with tools to shut down illegal sites, to protect consumers, and to subject online poker to strict regulation.

[Golden]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRy

Not true, PPA got a lot of press post black friday, lining up player quotes and helping shine the spotlight on the plight of online players. PPA also held that press conference in DC and it looks like they had some hand in the Barton bill.

Might not want to quote my entire post and then say "not true," while some things in my post might be debatable there are some things that are fact. It is a fact that the PPA was reluctant to part ways with Full Tilt even when funds weren't being released. It is a fact that the top executives in the PPA are being paid way too much. It is a fact that people are sheep and will follow celebrities blindly. Before you say "not true," you might actually want to quote what you are disagreeing with instead of quoting the entire post and saying it is all not true.

[mpethybridge]

[QUOTE=Troveur;27820460]

Originally Posted by FairPlayUSA

FairPlayUSA is a non-profit grassroots campaign

This is an excellent point that I think needs to be addressed.

Until I saw the FPUSA's contradictory statements quoted above, I was pretty excited to have a new organization supporting online poker. But within minutes of joining 2+2, FPUSA made these two inconsistent statements. This is hugely insulting to the 2+2 community.

FPUSA, please provide evidence that you are actually a grassroots organization. Specifically:

• In what state is FPUSA incorporated?
• Who signed the articles of incorporation?
• Do the incorporators have any relationship, including an attorney client relationship, with Caesar's or MGM?
• If so, which incorporator(s) and what is that relationship?
• Has any incorporator of FPUSA previously been employed by Caesar's or MGM? If so, in what capacity, and when did that relationship end?
• Please identify all of the members of the Board of Advisors, and their affiliation, if any, with Caesar's or MGM.
• Please name each paid employee of FPUSA with management responsibilities, and for each such employee, state whether that person is or has been an employee, officer or agent of either Caesar's or MGM.
• Describe the process by which the 10 principles on your website were formulated, and identify each employee, officer or agent of MGM or Caesar's who was involved in deriving those principles and the extent of his or her involvement.

In my opinion, it is vitally important that FPUSA's answers to these concerns clearly demonstrate that the organization is independent of Caesar's and MGM. Otherwise, FPUSA cannot be considered a grassroots organization, and will be shown to have been nothing more than an astroturf operation.

In view of Caesar's lousy reputation among players for poor customer service and unreasonably high rakes, and its support for online poker legislation that limits competition and player choice, players should not support any organization that is taking its marching orders from Caesar's.

[Moneyline]

In regard to this from your website:

Strengthen the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 to unambiguously eliminate illegal Internet gambling.
Provide tools to crack down on unlicensed foreign operators who do not comply with U.S. law; removing U.S. banks as the enforcers under UIGEA and empowering law enforcement to shut down illegal operators.

I have several questions.

1) Why does your organization feel that it should go after offshore gambling as opposed to just getting online gambling legal, regulated, and taxed within the US.

2) I bet sports online at sportsbooks located offshore. How would your proposed crackdown deal with people like me? Would you aim to seize the funds I keep with these books? Would you like to see the people who book my bets thrown in jail?

3) How exactly do you propose to "strengthen the UIGEA?"

4) How exactly do you propose to "empower law enforcement to shut down illegal operators" who are located in foreign countries in which their businesses are legal?