Are you supporting the #Fight4Poker campaign?.

By RP, June 17, 2016

The Pokerstars blog has added its voice to that of Twitch caster Jason Somerville and others in urging US players to support the Poker Players Alliance #Fight4Poker campaign.

The campaign, which can be accessed here: https://theppa.org/fight4poker/ urges players to contact their political representatives to appeal for the legalisation of online poker in order to maintain the momentum currently being achieved in California, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

This week Somerville, who has tens of thousands of Twitch followers, commented:

“It’s a critical time for online poker. The tide is turning. People reaching out and talking to their legislators makes a difference. Write a tweet, write an e-mail, make a phone call. Let’s make our voices heard and get it done.”

He was joined by a similar comment on the Pokerstars blog from Amaya communications head Eric Hollreiser, who wrote:

“There’s never been a more important time for American online poker players to make their voices heard than right now. Today, lawmakers are considering online poker legislation in the statehouses of California, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. The New York Senate passed an online poker bill yesterday and another online poker bill is due to be heard by the California Assembly Appropriations Committee today. There’s real, growing momentum pushing for licensing in these states and we’re now closer than ever to the finishing line.”

He added:

“New Jersey is a bright, shining example of how successful, regulated online poker can be in America. Never mind the lofty revenue projections of 2013, look at the reality of hundreds of thousands of Americans playing safely within the geographic confines of the Garden State. Technology and well-monitored corporate governance is successfully keeping criminal activity out of online gaming, protecting the vulnerable from the risks of gambling, and also sending millions of dollars of tax revenue into the state’s coffers. It’s a convincing template to show that safe, regulated online poker can be achieved in the United States.

“It is an election year. Your voice matters. #Fight4Poker with the PPA. Call, email and Tweet your elected officials to remind them how important the regulation of online gaming truly is. Find 10 other supporters to take action. Make noise. It is common-sense legislation that protects consumers and benefits players everywhere. Help us make this a reality. Now is the time. Now is the moment. Now is when the PPA and poker need you!”

Speaking about the PPA campaign, executive director John Pappas revealed that his members and supporters had made 10,000 contacts through phone calls, emails and tweets to New York lawmakers, on the Senate and Assembly sides, in just over a week.

“I don’t know of any other group, not even the DFS guys, who are getting that kind of activism out of players,” Pappas said.