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

PPA Applauds Introduction of Senate Bill toLicense and Regulate Internet Poker

Menendez Bill Adds Clarity, Consumer Protection

WASHINGTON, DC. (August 6, 2009)

–The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassrootsadvocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today commended Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for introducing the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, andEnforcement Act. The legislation establishes the needed licensing and regulatory framework for the UnitedStates to protect consumers by exercising appropriate control and oversight over Internet poker and other gamesof skill.“Through our efforts on Capitol Hill during National Poker Week, the tides are turning and support for licensingand regulating Internet poker versus infringing on Internet freedom is growing,” said PPA Chairman and former Senator Alfonse D’Amato. “The PPA is pleased that Senator Menendez chose to introduce his bill to licenseand regulate Internet poker and include additional consumer protections. His continued support for protectingthe Internet freedoms of poker players specifically, and Americans generally, is greatly appreciated.”Momentum has also been building for Federal legislation to license and regulate Internet poker. During National Poker Week, PPA members from across the country converged in Washington, D.C., to meet with morethan 100 members of the U.S. House and Senate to promote legislation to license and regulate Internet poker.At the same time, more than 210,000 letters were sent to Capitol Hill encouraging lawmakers support for therights of poker players.Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA),H.R. 2267, now has over 50 cosponsors, and with this new Senate bill the PPA will continue its advocacy work during the August recess so that key Senators know their constituents want them to cosponsor this bill.Key provisions of the bill include:

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Creation of a registry of unlicensed online gambling operators that will strengthen enforcement effortsof truly unlawful gambling;

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Mandatory implementation of technologies to protect against underage gambling and to monitor anddetect individuals with excessive gaming habits;

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Dedicated funding to develop and implement prevention and treatment programs for problem gamblers;

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Mechanisms to collect the billions of dollars in tax revenue that is currently being lost; and