Poker Legislation…
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - Annie Duke
I just got back from DC from yet another lobbying trip. But this time I combined it with a vacation with the kids to explore the seat of our nation. I have been to Washington so many times but never during the summer months when the kids are out of school. As soon as the PPA contacted me and asked me if I would be willing to come out and lobby during National Poker Week I thought, “Awesome! I can take the kids with me this time!” And so I did that. The kids got to see a bit of what Mom does when she is in DC but they also got a great vacation trip, experiencing The Smithsonians, The Capital Dome Tour, The Floor of the House of Representatives and all sorts of other cool crap.
So first the lobbying. The Poker issue is really seeing some movement now. Granted, the Health Care Legislation is slowing things up a little right now as Congress is focused on matters that are certainly more important than the poker legislation. But I felt a real difference in the legislators on this issue. On this trip there was much less educating of members on the issue and why it is important, something we had to do a lot of over the past couple of years. This year seemed to be more talking of attack plans, how to get legislation moving forward and how to get other programs paid for using the poker revenue. The $3 billion to $10 billion dollar tax base that would be generated from taking and regulating the poker industry was definitely creating a lot of buzz on The Hill as Members are needing to find ways to pay for the health care program. That much tax revenue is attractive to a country in financial crisis and is most likely one of the big reasons that the support for poker is much more bi-partisan.
There are a few pieces of legislation swirling around Capitol Hill. The first is a piece of legislation that would delay the regulations for UIGEA being put into effect. Those regs are set to go into effect in January. What Rep. Frank is asking for is that that deadline be delayed while a court decides what is or is not legal under UIGEA. The problem is that UIGEA, while admonishing payment processors that they cannot process illegal transactions, does not define what is a legal or illegal activity. HR 2166 would ask the courts to define what is legal so there is clarity on that issue. Put poker up in a court of law and we will take the chance that it will be determined a game of skill and, therefore, a legal activity. I am happy to hang my hat on the courts on this one.
HR 2167 is the full on legalization and regulation of Internet Gaming in all its forms except for sports betting. This bill would put a system in place similar to the system they have in England and 25 other countries already. It would create a licensing process for online gaming companies so they could legally operate in the US. Along with this would come better consumer protection measures and majority verification measures as licensed companies would have to use best efforts to comply on those issues. It is what the companies want and what the consumers want. There is also a bill on the Senate side from Sen. Menendez that would license peer to peer games of skill only…lucky for us, poker falls in that category.
I came away from this trip the most optimistic I have been from any lobbying trip. Hopefully, I am not just being a Pollyanna
In my next blog I will post pictures of all the cool crap we saw at the Smithsonians.
Annie
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Tags: Annie Duke, Congress, HR 2166, HR 2167, national poker week, poker legislation, Poker Poker Poker, Smithsonians, uigea, Washington
August 4th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Please verify the bill number as the letter I received from my Representative states the bill is HR2267. Thanks.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Congrats are in order for Ms Annie Duke. She won the Legends of Poker’s Media Event-No Limit Hold ‘em last week.
The Big winner was the Charity that Annie was playing for.
She is running around so much that this young lady forgot to toot her own horn..lol..wtg Ms Duke & keep up with the fine work that you have been doing.
Lee
August 12th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I just happened on you website … looking for people who have the same kind of concerns that I have.
I play a lot of poker on-line … but just at the $10 sit’n'go level. I do pretty well … lost $200 over the last year. Switch between Full Tilt and UltimateBet. Playing poker is for fun and challenge…. although I like to win …. lol.
As an experienced poker player … then the emphasis in the USA should not be just to get people to be able to do it … there should be a ‘code of conduct’ around which providers of poker sites should be expected to meet. In the blackjack world … millions have been spent to identify cheaters because it’s the casino’s money. With poker …. it’s not the provider’s money so they don’t care.
We have learned in the blackjack world that if you use a computer or mechanical advice to gain advantage then you can be sent to jail. It is not a minor event. Your strategy should be more directed towards providing an honest experience for people who enjoy the pastime. I recommend that your strategy should be directed towards regulating the providers and what kind of service they provide … so that anybody who plays has an expectation of a fair game.
There are 3 things that happen in the online world that need to be part of any provider’s commitment to the public.
1. There are publicly available HUDS and BOTS and software which will collect data on people whom you have never met before or during the game. These can and would be stopped if the poker providers were risking there own money.
2. The online poker experience should as closely as possible represent the real life experience. If somebody is playing 4,8,12,20 tables at the same time, (like in chess) …. then I should have easy access to the knowledge that it is happening .. and if it was in real life I’d see it.
3. Collusion between 2 or more people in the same room or in telephone contact. Just limit the number of times people can be in the same game per month.
Having just one provider of on-line poker who would step up and be accountable for these 3 things …. like other businesses do …. would greatly enhance the what the poker experience should be … fun … risk ….fairness. Let the cards fall as they may.
In the meantime, I’m doing OK even though I know that a lot of people are out the cheat me.
Mal