The Poker Players Alliance is an organization that continues to support poker players needs in the legal sense of poker gaming and has been heavily involved in online poker gaming as individual states try to offer or ban the option. In California, the organization has followed the legislation efforts closely and this week, with the introduction of the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act, the PPA has stated that the bill has too many flaws for the organization to be in support of it.
PocketFives spoke with Executive Director of the PPA, John Pappas, and discussed the recent release of AB 9, which was created by Mike Gatto, a California Assemblyman. Several key points were discussed including the requirement of depositing at land-based casinos as well as bad actor clauses. On the point of brick-and-mortar casino deposits, Pappas stated that it defeats the purpose of what online poker is. Players should be able to make deposits from the computer and believes the condition is one that is misguided on understanding how to establish synergy between the land-based casino and online poker players.
The new bill also has language that will see players criminalized when found playing at non-regulated gaming sites. Pappas stated in the report that the PPA is strongly opposed to this type of language and is unnecessary. According to Pappas, when you have a good market of licensed companies, the players will not visit the unlicensed sites.
Also discussed was the horse racing industry and bad actor clauses which is a hot topic of debate within the state of California. The PPA is in support of allowing all possible participants as it will allow for a better overall product. Pappas stated the market should not just be open to card rooms and tribes. This new bill will exclude such companies as Amaya, the new owner of PokerStars, and the PPA has stated this is both unfair and unwise. So for now, the PPA feels the bill has too many flaws for their initial support, but has opened up the discussion yet again in the state of California for online poker.
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