Poker Players Alliance Unveils Political ‘Jokers’ List



South Carolina’s Senator Lindsey Graham is one of the most prominent ‘jokers’ on the PPA’s target list of anti-online gambling proponents.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has generated a list of 22 politicians that the organization is referring to as ‘jokers,’ highlighting lawmakers who are up for election in and who also oppose Internet poker november. The people on the list consist of prospects for the Senate, House of Representatives and gubernatorial positions, and feature both Republicans and Democrats who have opposed online gambling.

‘Over the previous year, these ‘jokers’ have advocated for federal and/or state prohibitions for Internet poker. Some have even sought to criminalize those who play,’ the PPA’s declaration says. ‘We wish you will need the time to get hold of these lawmakers before Election and let your voice be heard day. It’s time to take the ‘jokers’ out from the deck!’

Most on List Are Likely to Win Elections

Many of the targets are anticipated to cruise to reelection victories this year. Those consist of big names, such as Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who sponsored bills preferred by Sheldon Adelson which would redefine the Wire Act to ban most kinds of on the web gambling.

Probably the most vulnerable name on the list is that of Rick Scott, the Republican governor of Florida. He could be locked in a really battle that is tight previous governor Charlie Crist, with almost every recent poll showing a virtual dead heat involving the two men. Scott has helped bring a number of the toughest anti-online gambling laws in the country to Florida, a move that even caused subscription poker sites being legal in many states to take out of the market there.

Republicans Dominate List

Looking at the list that is overall 17 of this PPA’s appointed ‘jokers’ are Republicans, while just five are Democrats. This is not terribly surprising: while you can find supporters and detractors of on line gambling on both edges associated with aisle, the national GOP platform includes a plank in favor of banning online gambling, and Adelson, a prominent donor to the party, is passionately in favor of such a ban. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has no formal position on the matter, giving users less incentive to come out for an internet poker ban.

Perhaps the most Democrat that is prominent who make the list was Martha Coakley, a candidate for governor in Massachusetts. The PPA says that Coakley made the list because of ‘multiple public statements against online poker and gaming.’ Four Democratic House members may also be included regarding the list.

On the PPA’s page dedicated to ‘The Jokers,’ a photograph of each politician is displayed. Hitting the pictures offers information on why they made the list, along with contact information for that lawmaker. While the PPA doesn’t explicitly tell users to vote against these prospects, it can ask in order to let them know that online gaming is an important issue to voters that they contact them.

Several of the listed candidates have actually made waves in the wonderful world of online poker in current years, even when they aren’t yet well-known towards the public that is general. Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor in Texas, can be hawaii’s Attorney General, and was one of real-money-casino.club the key signatories to a page by 15 attorneys general asking for a federal online poker ban. Marco Scavello may only be described as a State Representative in Pennsylvania, but gained notoriety for becoming the lead sponsor on a bill that could have criminalized internet poker in the state.

California Chukchansi Casino Still Closed as Tribal Gaming War Continues

Warring factions at the California Chukchansi Casino remain poised to simply take actions that could endanger public safety, authorities state. The property remains closed. (Image: pfadvice.com)

California’s Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino should stay closed for the safety of its customers that are own employees: that’s the phrase from the state’s Deputy Attorney General, as a dispute between two rival tribal factions shows no indications of abating.

The AG’s office this week asked a federal judge to keep the gaming property turn off before the contentious dilemmas can be resolved for good.

The Chukchansi had been closed down following a power that is armed between two competing tribes, each wrestling for control of the casino’s ownership. On October 9 at around 6:30pm, 20 armed men entered the building and ordered security guards at gunpoint into a location of the casino where these people were handcuffed and assaulted, forcing around 500 clients and workers from the casino and hotel.

More details have since emerged of the dispute, which concerns two groups that are opposing known as the Tex McDonald and Reggie Lewis factions. It appears the McDonald faction had been running the Chukchansi from its base at the tribe’s nearby business complex up until August, whenever Lewis faction entered the casino within the early hours associated with morning and occupied the 10th and 11th floors, effectively using over.

The initial schism in the tribe apparently arose following a disputed election.

Danger to Public Safety

The ousted McDonald group claimed it then stormed the premises in order to assemble casino documents and review information that were overdue for submission to the National Indian Gaming Commission. The Commission had threatened to close the casino down and issue it a $16 million fine if the accounts, some of which are 1 . 5 years late, were maybe not submitted. The Commission said Friday that is last that had now gotten the audits.

However, the McDonald faction’s heavy-handed actions resulted in the casino’s instant closure by order of a federal judge. A restraining order is now in place to keep both groups apart while no arrests could be made in relation to the armed stand-off, because it took place on tribal land. US District Judge Lawrence O’Neill has said that the casino may have violated its agreement with all the state, which requires it not to endanger public security.

‘All evidence points to the tensions and confrontations continuing, not abating,’ stated the court documents filed by Deputy State Attorney General William Torngren this week. ‘The keys to reopening the casino have been in the tribe’s arms,’ added Torngren, whom says it’s up now to officials that are tribal re solve the dispute.

No Federal Interference

Minimal progress has apparently been made since the incident that is dramatic. According to Joginder Dhillon, senior adviser for tribal negotiations for California Governor Jerry Brown, the 2 factions ‘remain poised to just take actions which could threaten public security.’

Madera County Sheriff John Anderson stated he hoped the casino’s continued closing would incentivize the tribe to find ground that is common. ‘Perhaps it’s going to force the tribe to get its act together and do something positive,’ he said.

The government that is federal meanwhile, said it might not step in to resolve the dispute. ‘The usa is ill-suited to make such decisions for tribal nations,’ said Kevin Washburn, the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, in a letter to the tribe. ‘I implore you working together to eliminate this dispute for the good of your tribal government, tribal account, and the surrounding community that you have made this type of significant impact through a fruitful operation of your economic enterprises.’

PokerStars Ramps Up Rake as Amaya Backlash Grows

Few would consider PokerStars rake increase to fall beneath the group of ‘progress,’ similar to this classic William Hogarth print. (Image: A Rake’s Progress/William Hogarth)

A PokerStars statement this week that it are going to be increasing rake for its cash games and tournaments on its dot.com client, the latest in a string of unpopular decisions, has ignited a person backlash against brand new owners Amaya Gaming.

The company’s announcement, which first appeared on poker forum TwoPlusTwo, has united the online poker community in its indignation, with the finger pointed squarely at Amaya.

The changes, which will enter into effect in two phases, the initial next week, on November 3, additionally the second on January 1, 2015, will hit high-stakes cash-game players, heads-up cash game players, and Sit & Go players the hardest, and contains caused numerous players to question the profitability of continuing to try out the overall game.

A sit-out boycott associated with the site is apparently presently being organized.

PokerStars additionally stated this week it is subject to ‘significant local taxes,’ including the UK, Germany and Denmark, which are jurisdictions that have already seen their VIP programs reduced that it will be introducing extra charges for tournament rebuys and add-ons in European countries where.

Unpopular Choices

It’s the time that is second a week that the company has caused a stink, having quietly added a 2.5 percent change price charge to deposits and withdrawals without first creating a formal announcement about the improvement in policy. Other decisions have caused consternation, too, such as for instance the ditching of many of its sponsored pros, along with all of Comprehensive Tilt, not to mention withdrawing suddenly from over 30 gray markets without previous warning.

Speaking about the changes that are recent this week, PokerStars Director of Communications Eric Hollreiser explained they were a necessity because ‘the game is constantly changing and evolving, as is society and technology at large. Like any good poker player,’ he continued, ‘ we realize which you need to adjust or risk being left behind. The choices we make today are not for quick term gain; they’re made because we think they truly are the right thing for tomorrow.

‘ we will continue to make tough telephone calls to secure the game in the present and also make bold moves to best invest in the future growth of the game. Our objective is still to provide the very best, many poker that is exciting and keep carefully the poker universe growing,’ Hollreiser included.

Is Sheldon Alderson Involved?

PokerStars will argue that the modifications bring its rake structure on the basis of the remaining portion of the online poker industry, and this is broadly real. But there is also a growing perception among players that there’s huge force on Amaya to recoup the $4.9 billion and incurred debt from the PokerStars takeover and that it’s trying to squeeze every final ounce of make money from an already hugely profitable business to the detriment of the poker ecosystem.

‘I no longer believe that PokerStars really are attempting to create profit but instead here (sic) new owners are attempting to destroy poker that is online’ said one disbelieving poster on TwoPlusTwo. ‘This may sound absurd but seriously don’t be surprised if Sheldon Alderson (sic) is involved somewhere.’

‘Wow. If this is true, then Amaya are severe about jeopardizing their monopoly,’ said another. ‘Wow. Terrible. That is awful for the long-term traffic for everything except non hyper MTTs, pretty much, so that as MTTs are this kind of small % of stars rake that is overall has to be a terrible move assuming a competitor may start siphoning down players (which will eventually take place).’

One poster even mocked up a gravestone that is photoshopped bearing the epitaph: ‘PokerStars. 2001-2014. We had been poker.’

But could a player backlash affect pokerStars’ really dominance? It is unlikely. Many players will not notice the changes even. The rest, well, to begin with, where would they go? PokerStars still delivers a rake that is competitive and contains unparalleled liquidity in terms of player swimming pools, and that suggests its monopoly is probably remaining placed.

Amaya, however, has purchased the most profitable online gambling businesses of them all, and may want to think twice before tinkering excessively having a formula that is winning.

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