No, I am echoing those who've wondered why you haven't or how your "very strong recommendations" do not constitute a call for one.

Why the careful avoidance? You had a respected poster take the time to explain to you why your strategy is not only damaging but confusing, and the best response you could muster was "What about it confuses you?".

Just admit it when you're wrong.
Venetian 5k starts on July 12. WSOP finishes July 14th.

Because it's the actual term for what you want the TDA to do. Perhaps it's time to quit trolling this thread and see if you can pry some cash out of the PPA to fight this.

Expressing outrage at every turn is easy. You'll notice Addleson is successful because he puts cash in pursuite of his goal.

So will you get your PPA stooges to use some of the Monies they use for taking politicos to lunch and maybe use it to help the TDA. My guess is no because PPA is more about talking about doing stuff. Thanks beating your dead horse here....

Because TheEngineer is far too subtle, here's an attempt at a more explicit reasoning.

a) What is the objective of the PPA? To (basically) have poker more legalised in the USA

b) Would calling for a boycott of the Venetian advance that goal? Probably not, because there are likely to still be poker games running at the Venetian... because a large chunk of the people playing at the Venetian is not very impassioned about the issue; they play there for reasons other than politics.

Lol the main event is around July 4th. Tda never waits until July.

I think you have it reverse. PPA is a non-profit advocacy group. Feel free to donate so we have cash to fight the fight.

Adelson is successful because he has the cash to use in pursuit of his goals.

Perfect.

Actually, a "boycott" has very little to do with business reduction these days (in contrast to the 19th and early 20th centuries). It has to do with corporate image.

If the PPA, the TDA and poker TV pros called in concert for a boycott of the Venetian poker room, any reduction in business would be insignificant to Adelson and LVS. In fact, if the Venetian poker room closed due to loss of attendance, they would just throw in more slot machines and probably increase their casino bottom line.

However, if a boycott were done properly, the corporate image of LVS could be damaged (somewhat). This could affect the share price of LVS - a much more important metric than business reduction. And as a side effect, it could underline Adelson's hypocrisy as well as the DC cronyism.

A boycott is strictly a PR anti-image campaign. Issue a joint public statement, get the pros on TV making statements, throw up pages on the web sites and hit social media. Go for loud and public announcements, not "strong recommendation". Hit the media over the head. Make the issue a hot potato so the LVS doesn't want to be connected to the "no Internet gambling" campaign, and neither do politicians.

Likewise, the TDA acceptance of the Venetian's offer is a PR image gaff. It is essentially taking a bribe from the enemy, no matter what the previous relationship was.

Adelson declared war on poker players by campaigning for something which is against the best interests of the poker player community. Poker players - at least all those in the know - need to choose their side and make it known. Adelson's war machine is money; ours is PR through individual and joint public action. Adelson and his cronies, despite their money, can't stand up to a public light because their campaign is based on untruths and hypocrisy. We should be shining every spotlight we have at our disposal on them at every opportunity.

I looked over the PPA website and I couldn't find anything about not playing at the Venetian. It may be there but it's not easy to find.

You would think an organization that is all for the regulation of online poker would at least have a small section, that is easy to find, on the Venetian and why poker players shouldn't play there.

Do you want me to add one?

+1

You are a lobbying group, you used to be backed by Pokerstars and Full Tilt while you claim to be "non profit" that doesn't mean you can't sponsor events. Just because you are non-profit doesn't mean you don't pay salaries to your lobbyists. Those salaries are probably more than the cost of the TDA event so fire one of your "advocates" use the money for the TDA event and bingo.

Let's face it one less lobbyist working is a positive thing.

If you don't want to do something other than running spam drives for the PPA or railing against windmills like Don Quixote here on 2+2, offer your services to run a crowd fund drive to have players here move the TDA event to a "suitable" site. I for one don't care where the event is.

Maybe the PPA should start developing a case to revoke Adlesons gambling license.

Even if you think PPA isn't doing a good job why in the world would it be their responsibility to pay for any TDA event?

Poker players had to organize to stand up against those who'd ban the game. Yes, that costs money. If that offends you, or if you simply support Sheldon Adelson, that's up to you, but the rest of us know we have to fight for our rights.

If we're running a fundraising drive, it will be for the fight itself. The Venetian offer is not a legitimate baseline, as their venue is completely unsuitable for this type of event.

PPA Mission Statement:

...The PPA’s mission is to establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play. Through education and awareness the PPA will keep this game of skill, one of America’s oldest recreational activities, free from egregious government intervention and misguided laws.

(emphasis added)

I'm certain the PPA approves of the TDA and their mission, but giving money to the TDA does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to advance the PPA's stated mission (see above).

This and other nonsensical attacks on the PPA boggles my mind, especially when they get attacked for "not doing enough" about issues that in my opinion, they shouldn't have anything to do with in the first place, such as the FTP remission*.

Rich and the PPA have made numerous statements against Adelson, and anyone that follows the PPA (and every poker player should) knows their stance regarding Adelson and his casinos. Yet, due to the fact they haven't actually used the word boycott, some people are indignant. It's amazing this is what some people focus on instead serious issues and the big picture.

*FTP remission: While I'm glad the PPA Executive Director, lawyers and others engaged the DOJ regarding this issue because I think they had a positive effect, by my reading of their mission statement, they didn't need to have anything to do with it. But again, numerous people went off on them for not doing enough.

Finally, I'll end with this crazy idea:

How about instead of attacking each other and the only organization that is working to establish favorable laws, we work together and with the PPA to get what we want.

It's official:

https://twitter.com/SavagePoker/stat...68783448674305

@SavagePoker: The 2015 @PokerTDA Summit will be held June 26-27 @ARIAPoker Las Vegas. Registration details to follow shortly. Send your local TD please.