8/14/2019 [Press Release] PPA Chairman Senator Alfonse D'Amato in Response to Online Poker Cheating Scandals

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Statement of PPA Chairman Senator Alfonse D’Amato in Response to

Online Poker Cheating Scandals

Washington, D.C. (July 22, 2008) – Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker 

Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with over one millionmembers nationwide, today issued the following statement in response to recent online poker 

cheating scandals.

“The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is the political and public policy voice for poker players in

America. Central to our mission are advocacy efforts in Washington D.C. and around the

country to protect poker players from misguided and vague laws and to establish licensed andregulated Internet poker in the U.S. To be clear, the PPA is not a regulatory body for poker 

 players or the poker industry, nor do we seek to be. We are, however, compelled to speak out

when our public policy mission is potentially undermined by actions which present Internet

 poker in a negative light.

“Trust is paramount in poker. Sadly, this foundation has been undercut by admissions from two

well-known online poker companies, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, that cheating hasoccurred on their poker sites. The Poker Players Alliance condemns any and all cheating in

 poker no matter the forum in which it is played. Because of the current legal uncertainties and

the lack of federal regulation and oversight, it is especially troubling when cheating occurs in

online poker.  This has created an untenable atmosphere and has denied the proper means toinvestigate allegations, administer due process and then apply appropriate penalties for the

wrongdoers. We urge these companies and their regulating authority, the Kahnawake Gaming

Commission, to provide a full and transparent accounting of these breaches of the public trust tohelp lift the black cloud that has been placed over the industry.

“The recent cheating scandals underscore the need for U.S. licensing and regulation of online poker to help protect consumers. While even the most highly regulated industries are susceptible

to fraud and abuse, regulation does provide assurances that when consumers are harmed they

have recourse. Further, it is abundantly clear that regulation will also address other consumer concerns by successfully providing ways to bar access by children to gambling Web sites and

 providing the necessary services for problem gamblers.

“The federal government cannot continue to abdicate this basic responsibility to millions of its

citizens who choose to play poker on the Internet. The attempt to enforce an outright prohibition

of online poker is deeply flawed and unworkable, not to mention it invades upon the personal

freedoms of law-abiding adults who wish to engage in a game of skill.

8/14/2019 [Press Release] PPA Chairman Senator Alfonse D'Amato in Response to Online Poker Cheating Scandals

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“Remaining consistent with our organization’s mission, we will continue our efforts on Capitol

Hill to ensure lawmakers are well educated about the benefits of regulation to protect consumers

and enable the rights of poker playing adults. These scandals will not and should not be thedemise of a responsible government approach to Internet poker. Instead, this can be the pathway

to understanding that regulation is the key to protecting citizens and the future of America’s card

game.”

 About The Poker Players Alliance

The Poker Players Alliance ( www.pokerplayersalliance.org  ) is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of over 1,000,000 online and offline poker players and enthusiasts from around the United States who have joined 

together to speak with one voice to promote the game and to protect poker players' rights.

Media Contact: Teresa Schofield

(202) 347-7516

tschofield@theheraldgroup.com