Obama to chip up?(credit:
notionscapital)
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) petition demanding the legalization of poker in the United States is approaching 200,000 signatures.
The petition asks for the exemption of poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), the licensing of internet poker in America, and the acknowledgement that poker is a game of skill. The movement has been championed by online network giants PokerStars and Cake Poker, who are running a series of $3,500 freerolls in order to promote awareness. Upon registering for the Freeroll, the player is asked to confirm details such as his name, mailing address and zip code, and submit a unique authentication code. So far, just over 194,000 signatures have been received.
Tension between the PPA and US government has been ripe over the past few weeks, following the seizure of over £30 million poker payment processor funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, New York seized funds transferred by bank wire, in accordance with the 1961 Wire Act and Illegal Gambling Business Act. Over 24,000 poker players were affected.
Meanwhile poker players will be clinging on to the hope that charismatic President Barack Obama will swap white house for full house and play in the WSOP Main Event on Friday, 3rd July. A generous ‘Mr Sklar’ has bought Obama into the $10,000 tournament. Should Mr Obama, a keen poker player, participate, it would symbolise a great victory for poker in the legislation battle. Chances of his involvement are minute however, reflected by the 25,000-1 odds Full Tilt pro Chris Ferguson gave Mr Sklar on a $40 bet.