NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Distribution

PPA Comments on Fraternal Order of Police Letter Opposing

a Federal Online Gambling Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 2, 2014) John Pappas, executive director of the Poker
Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million
members nationwide, issued the following statement in response to the National Fraternal Order
of Polices letter urging Congress to oppose a Federal ban on Internet gambling. The letter notes
that, a Federal prohibition is irresponsible and will severely hinder our efforts to combat
unlawful activity on the Internet.
The Fraternal Order of Polices letter clearly demonstrates to Congress that a licensed and
regulated online poker market is undoubtedly more effective than prohibition as a means to
protect consumers from fraud, identity theft or criminal activity. A federal ban would only serve
to drive online poker and other forms of online gambling underground where law enforcement
has no authority to protect consumers from corruption.
The states have already proven that online gaming can be appropriately regulated and in fact
have greater controls than brick-and-mortar casinos. Its time for Congress to either step up and
create a safe and regulated online poker environment for all Americans or step aside and allow
the states to precede in doing so for their respective citizens.
About The Poker Players Alliance
The Poker Players Alliance (www.theppa.org; http://twitter.com/ppapoker;
www.facebook.com/theppa) 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.
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Media Contact:
email@theppa.org