Great news everyone. Major online poker and online casino gaming stakeholders have come together to fight Adelson and his prohibition efforts, forming the Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection. They are not seeking a specific agenda, instead joining together solely to fight against prohibition. Check it out at http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...on-103135.html

and....

C-COP ?

Who, other than MGM, is part of this Coalition ? Caesars ?

Thanks for the info, TE. This is very good news, and I'm glad to see the formation of this group. We need all the help we can get!

http://c4cop.com/

Constructive criticism - the "About Us" does need to say who.

We know that there is industry money behind this (welcome) initiative so it is better to have it declared up front. The campaign should be just what it says on the tin so declaring supporters and funding, no need to be ashamed of or hide the funding.

way to go guys, lets take it to this fool

Excellent site!

"The Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection is speaking out on behalf of public safety leaders, parents, business leaders, teachers, technology leaders, state and federal elected officials, the gaming industry and other concerned groups in opposition to a ban on all Internet gaming."


..... nothing about players or their interests ?

Other than:

"An estimated 1 million Americans currently spend nearly $3 billion a year on an unsafe, unregulated black market for Internet gaming." and

"Internet gamers are different than traditional casino patrons"

The approach taken is really focused on the argument that 1,000,000 online gambling players are going to use unregulated sites and prohibition won't stop them from doing so.

"Prohibition doesn’t work. Just like prohibition on alcohol created the speakeasies, prohibition on Internet gaming creates an unsafe black market."

While it is easier to block a prohibition (or any legislation) than to pass a bill, it would have been nice to see some nod to players and their rights ..... instead of casting them as hopeless buffoons who will be cheated and robbed in pursuit of online gaming thrills ,unless someone steps in to regulate .... but not prohibit.

I have to give this round to Sheldon on clarity of message grounds.

I just wanted to take exception on giving the round to Adelson on "clarity of message grounds". His latest message, according to a newly released video includes quotes such as "established online Al Qaeda poker network could fund another 9/11 every few days".

So there could be an Al Qaeda poker network laundering money every few days at high stakes poker. This is ridiculous, as pointed out quite well by Haley Hintze here

http://www.flushdraw.net/news/sheldo...mes-thackston/

The new video focuses on a casino in every home, while ignoring the fact that there has already been a "casino in every home" for well over 10 years, albeit in an unregulated market.

The video talks about how the poor FBI is already very busy tracking down criminals and terrorists, and regulated online gaming will be just another industry ripe with terrorism they will have to worry about, so let's ban online gaming to avoid this.

Here is an article from NationalJournal with the video embedded if you want to take a look.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/techn...ommon-20140210

Adelson's tactics thus far have has not been based in fact, instead promoting a "the sky will fall and life will end as we know it" approach. Fortunately, facts do not bear out most of his assertions and they are easily refutable, but I sure don't think he wins any points on message clarity.

RE: C4COP, they may not be perfect or exactly everything you may want, but Adelson remains a very dangerous opponent due to his influence and money, and I feel the group's formation is a good thing.

I think we fall in the other concerned groups category.

So, where are the players speaking up for themselves? Why is it the duty of this organization to speak on behalf of the players? We have an advocacy group that the majority of players expect a lot from without giving anything to.

It's on us to speak on behalf of us. If there really is a million of us, getting that together in a unified voice would not only be impressive, it would be effective.

The Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection, based in Washington D.C., is dedicated to fighting any proposed ban on internet wagering. The group is led by MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren, and ironically, also features Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven as a board member.

Can someone please explain this to me?!

If there were a million of us" .....

There are not and, realistically, never have been 1,000,000 poker players either paying dues to the PPA, voting on PPA leadership positions, or participating in any real democratic way in deciding policy matters. That is not a disqualifying shortcoming for the PPA, in its mission of choice. However, to the extent that poker players buy into this "1,000,000+ members" assertion, their expectation will be dashed.

On the other hand, IF "someone" shows up on the side of poker players in fighting AGAINST a ban on online gambling, that IS a good thing. I think it is also an opportunity to get express recognition from that "someone" that players have an interest which should be included in that someone's mission .... if it wants players support on the Hill and in their online poker operations.

Hedging their bets I guess?