Sat, 04/02/2011 – 02:33 – PokerPages Staff

Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas revealed that the Washington State Poker Lobby Day held in the state earlier this month was a huge success.

Key figures from PPA headed to Washington in the hope of convincing lawmakers that the gambling law passed in 2006, which classed online poker as a Class C felony, was unsustainable.

“We accomplished a lot and the feedback we got from lawmakers was encouraging. There was not a lot of appetite to keep the criminalization in the law.”

However, Pappas admitted that it was not feasible for a bill to be passed which would eradicate the criminalization until 2012.

Pappas also revealed that the Washington lawmakers were shocked at the severity of the law.

“It has never been enforced, but that is no excuse to have a stupid law on the books.”

“The idea that you are making criminals of players on their computers is illogical especially since the state has regulated card rooms and tribal casinos.”

The outlook for pro online poker legislation was bleak following the failure to get Barney Frank’s bill off the ground during the lame duck session of Congress late last year.

However, recent lobbying seems to have highlighted the need for federal legislation which would create a regulated and licensed framework.

Pappas admits the PPA still champion federal based measures and does not harbor hopes for an intrastate framework in Washington.

“The licensing and regulation will be a much harder sell. No one knows exactly where the tribes would come down on that and the PPA still has broader concerns in pursuing state by state models.”

Wed, 03/23/2011 – 22:36 – PokerPages Staff

South Point Hotel and Casino owner Michael Gaughan has backed the bill which could regulate and license online poker in Nevada.

Gaughan, who becomes the first owner of a Las Vegas casino to speak out in favor of the Assembly Bill 258, believes Nevada should set an example for other states to follow.

“There is no doubt in my mind that online poker and other games are coming. AB 258 would make us a pioneer in the nationwide movement and the leader for the rest of the country to emulate.”

The bill, which has also been supported by the world’s biggest online poker site, PokerStars, was introduced by Assemblyman William Horne earlier this month.

Initial optimism surrounding the measure was dampened when Caesars Entertainment voiced their opposition.

The influential casino giant is thought to have played a significant role in New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s decision to veto a bill which would have legalized internet poker in the state.

However, Gaughan’s vocal support and other positive forms of lobbying have provided a solid platform for pro online poker legislation in Nevada.

Nevada is currently gripped by the recession with a $1 billion budget deficit and 13.5 % unemployment rate.

Gaughan believes the Assembly Bill would provide numerous economic and employment opportunities and could be worth up to $500 billion.

“I don’t know how good it will be for me, but I think it will benefit the state. That is why I am not opposing it.”