March 12, 2009 - Okay, so I've got to talk some
more about the Poker Players Alliance - otherwise known as
the PPA. One of our writers here at Online Casino Suite
recently dished out a news story about the PPA's latest
foray - and I've got to say that I'm not surprised. Not by
the writer, nor the PPA. Just kidding Margaret...you never
cease to surprise....err...impress me. Ya, that's
it.... Margaret Oliveira impresses me.
Okay, so before I put my foot deeper into my mouth (which
would make it more like my wind pipe at this point), or give the Hendon
Mob due course to pay me a visit in the middle of the night,
I've got to say, firstly, that I greatly admire the
organization efforts of the PPA - not to mention their
weight in the lobbying territory. They've certainly done a
great job at giving the online poker sector a heightened
degree of credibility.
That said, now let me bespeak of all the things I am not
so impressed with about the PPA. Regarding this recent news
that I've already mentioned, the PPA recently rented out an
exhibit at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
in Washington D.C. with the hopes of showing the "light" to
die-hard liberals totally against the notions of regulating
any form of gambling whatsoever.
But to give them the benefit of the doubt, a spokesperson
for the PPA said their presence at CPAC was to drum up media
buzz more so than to save some political conservatives, so
to speak. Hey, let's be fair. I'm writing about it now, so I
suppose you could say that mission was accomplished.
However, I personally don't believe the notion that "any
press is good press". You definitely wouldn't catch me
applying anything "directly to my forehead", if you get my
drift.
To put it bluntly, I think the PPA has a
serious uphill battle. First off, they are trying to make
poker out to be something completely different than online
casino gambling. Okay, so it's a game of skill. I've heard it a
thousand times. But don't craps and blackjack allow the
bettor to use strategy for increasing odds? Secondly, they
are apparently still attempting to lobby members of Congress
in the "traditional" sense - and the Obama administration
simply isn't going to stand for that same load of BS
anymore. Oh, and don't even get me started on their last ad
campaign.
I know it's easy to pick things apart. But what about
some solutions? Well, if you ask me (you probably wouldn't,
but that's okay), I'd tell the PPA to use all their money to
develop and open their very own offshore online poker room.
There's still plenty of other poker rooms and online casinos
doing the same. It could be done...and I'd probably play
there.
Originally published:
March,
2009 | Categories:
Online Poker
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