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Of course, with such a high profile cast of players among their rank, the PPA’s National Poker Week scored coverage far beyond the traditional poker-centric publications and successfully managed to make a few waves in mainstream media.
First on the organization’s charm offensive was the Howard Stern Show, where PPA Chairman Alphonse D’Amato was the guest of honor. Such was the eloquence of D’Amato’s testimony in favor of legalizing online poker on the show that after chatting with Stern about his passion for the cause, the host announced on air that he would join the PPA.
After the show, D’Amato told reporters: “I can’t think of a more fitting way to kick of National Poker Week than having my friend Howard Stern become a member of the PPA. With Howard Stern as a member, it shows Congress and the public that protecting internet poker is about more than just poker—it’s about internet freedom and personal responsibility.
The PR rally didn’t stop there, however, as PPA executive director John Pappas picked up the baton by appearing on CNBC to form one side of a live debate on online poker in America. Taking his place opposite Les Bernal, who fronts an organization called Stop Predatory Gambling, Pappas explained that online gambling needed to be legalized so children weren’t preyed on by unscrupulous operators, and adults could play on sites that were fair and regulated.
Naturally, this left Bernal in something of a pickle given that his anti-legalization stance claimed to stand for the exact same values, but argued that they could be achieved without regulating online gambling in the US. Bernal didn’t do himself any favors during the four-minute segment as he floundered with stats and indicated that he believed online poker was played against the house rather than other players.
Certainly, between D’Amato’s impassioned speech on the Howard Stern Show and Pappas’ cool dismantling of the opposition on CNBC, the PPA had scored a powerful two-pointer in Washington.
Send In The Troops
As you would thoroughly expect, National Poker Week wasn’t all about the business side of things, and the PPA duly found the time to host a special $100 buy-in charity tournament to raise money for United Service Organizations and wounded veterans.
Around 180 people played in the one-off rebuy tournament—including 31 wounded veterans and seven members of Congress—and many of the professional poker players also in attendance were only too happy to rebuy any soldiers who unfortunately busted out early.
In the end, the tournament raised $35,000 for the USO and was won by veteran Bret Chevalier, who got his hands on an expenses-paid trip to Vegas for his efforts. The jovial nature of the tournament also provided the perfect advertisement for everything D’Amato and PPA set out to Washington to campaign for.
Making money for charity, brightening the lives of disabled veterans and giving the public the chance to rub shoulders with poker’s elite, clearly the PPA’s tournament will have provided further food for thought for those still unable to see the positive impact the legalization and regulation of online poker could one day have. |
