Everyone should take a moment and be heard

http://go.theppa.org/survey2017

My 2c (maybe nickel even)

It's pretty clear that the fight is no longer about poker at all, but rather online gambling in general. This is what the industry wants, because it is more profitable. It's also a much harder sell, especially in states with tribal gaming.

It's also pretty clear that the players themselves are pretty much irrelevant. If the industry leaders don't get exactly what they want, they oppose doing anything at all. That is messed up, and doesn't garner any support from the players.

The PPA made a choice last year in California, and they stood with Pokerstars against player protections. Now, they can spin it any way they want, but the truth is they opposed the final bill because it excluded Pokerstars.

So the PPA needs to redefine its mission, change its name, or both. If you want to be a lobby for the gaming industry, that is fine, but don't claim you represent me, because I don't care if the gaming industry gets all it wants, I want to play.

You should get back to the roots, do more grassroots outreach, because when the Pokerstars money goes dry, AND IT WILL, it will be game over for the PPA because they have lost the players.

My personal view, I wrote and walked a bill into my state legislature, and then was left hanging by the industry. While the PPA didn't completely ignore it, they didn't give a lot of help either. And that being the case, why should players bother?

I can't motivate myself to do this again, knowing the industry won't get behind my effort and may even oppose it, as they did last time.

Tell me why I should bother, please.

I mean I know it would be nice in an ideal world, but why would the industry get behind a bill they didn't write? They are looking out for their best interest. Publicly traded companies are obligated to look out for their best interest. They're not just going to come to our aid out of the goodness of their hearts. There would have to be a legitimate argument it will benefit them financially. That's a tough sell here.

I think the fight right now is 100% defensive. We're hunkered down just trying not to lose ground in the hope that Adelson dies and his heirs don't take up his crusade. There's just no one else making that kind of political investment who is on our side.

The ppa is a colossal failure imo for the sample size.believe me when I say to the people that have or are working for the ppa I appreciate all the hard work they have done and tried to do but the
Legislative results are non existent. I mean without the ppa Nevada and nj would have gotten online poker regardless. They are very gambling friendly states. Other than Help defense rawr what other claim to fame has does the ppa have for it's 13 year existence.

In b4 you do something better if you don't like the ppa. That is a defensive mechanism for lack of results. Yes you are doing more than me altho I have donated before but no one aspects anything out of me nor do i give the premise i have any power or will achieve any results. The premise is the ppa will get results but over 13 year and x amount of dollars what has been the rio?


P.s I don't have Ill feeling towards the ppa im just being critical of imo lack of forward progress

For several years now the PPA has been fighting a billionaire who is spending 100s of millions to outlaw online poker and online gaming in general. Without the PPA, he might have won by now. But with very small resources, the PPA has been a huge factor in successfully blocking his efforts. Sounds like a fairly impressive result to me.

And yes, I am a member of the Board. So not a neutral party with regard to my opinions here.

Cheers, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

American state run online poker is a state issue and i believe Congress understands that. I very much doubt they could pass a federal ban on it even if the ppa wassnt around. They tend to leave state matters up for the state to choose.
Im just disappointed in the cycle of hope and failure every single year for getting more states online esp mine only to be let down. Been to stagnant.

I Appreciate all your hard work Greg so don't take it as a slurr.