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Contact:Shannon Flahertysflaherty@theheraldgroup.com(202) 347-6762

PPA Unveils National Poker Week, July 19-25Slate of D.C., Nationwide Activities to Showcase Support of Poker

WASHINGTON, DC. (June 22, 2009)

–The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today announced National Poker Week , to be held July 19-25, 2009. National Poker Week will rally the PPA’s vastmembership nationwide to send the message to lawmakers that their constituents support poker and legislation to regulate and license the game played by more than 10 million Americansonline.“Our members – the poker players of America – are our best advocates to protect the future of poker,” PPA Chairman and Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato said. “National Poker Week, withevents in Washington, D.C., and across the country, is the PPA’s way to make it clear to myformer colleagues in the U.S. Congress that poker is important to voters and is here to stay.”Over 30 of PPA’s State Directors and half a dozen professional poker players will travel toWashington, D.C., during National Poker Week to meet with their members of Congress and ask them to support legislation establishing licensing and regulation of online poker, such as H.R.2267 introduced by House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). They will alsodeliver a petitionto President Obama asking his support to exempt poker from the UnlawfulInternet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and for the licensing and regulation of online poker. To sign the online petition visit,www.pokerpetition.com.Throughout the week, the PPA will be organizing telephone and email campaigns toCongressional offices so that poker players across the country can make their voice heard. Poker players should visitwww.nationalpokerweek.comto learn how they can be an advocate for thegame during National Poker Week.“Protecting Americans’ right to play poker – whether online or around the poker table – issomething everyone should support even if you don’t play. Restricting what we can do online inthe privacy of our own home is a slippery slope, which is why I am coming to Washington for National Poker Week – to tell my members of Congress to protect my rights,” said professional poker player Howard Lederer, who along with Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, LindaJohnson and Dennis Phillips will participate in National Poker Week (more professional playerswill be confirmed later).