Congressional “Policy Retreat” in Florida, Poker Derby Days in KY
Last weekend, the Poker Players Alliance joined nearly twenty Members of Congress at a House Republican policy retreat in Florida. The highlight of the conference was a poker and casino night sponsored by PPA and headlined by PPA Board Member & 2004 World Series of Poker Champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer.
Throughout the course of the weekend, PPA Executive Director John Pappas, PPA lobbyists, and the Fossilman interacted with lawmakers and explained the merits of online poker licensing and regulation. We were pleased that Congressional champions of poker rights Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) were on hand to help make the case to their House colleagues for a regulatory framework that would provide strong consumer protections, bring in revenue without raising taxes, and restore personal freedoms.
Greg was a huge hit with all the attendees. He gave a poker tutorial to a crowded table of novices who were excited to learn from one of the world’s best players. The weekend event was an excellent and unique opportunity for us to bring your issues to the forefront. We succeeded in educating these lawmakers on the policy, and they had a lot of fun learning more about the great game of poker.
John Pappas, Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH), and Greg Raymer
Greg instructs a table of poker beginners on the finer points of Texas Hold’em
Last Thursday, I attended the Derby Poker Championship tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. As the PPA Kentucky State Director, I enjoy getting out to meet with the poker community as often as possible to hear everyone’s concerns and to share all that PPA is doing.
It was a great time and a great event that benefited a great charity – Blessings in a Backpack.
G. Douglas Dreisbach, General Manager of Southern Gaming Magazine, and me at the event
John Taylor of the Louisville Poker Tour and me
