BLACK FRIDAY IMPACTS POKER LOBBYING ACTION

4/24/2012 : BLACK FRIDAY IMPACTS POKER LOBBYING ACTION
 
PPA fundraising and spending down by half, and lobbying spend slows by 20 percent
 
The Washington DC publication Politico reports that federal enforcement action last year against three major online poker sites and individuals associated with them – better known as Black Friday – has impacted the pro-legalised online poker activities of the Poker Players Alliance.
 
“A Justice Department crackdown on several Internet gambling websites is dealing a heavy blow to the efforts of Washington’s premiere online poker PAC to raise cash and throw it at lawmakers," the article claims, pointing out that fundraising and spending by the Poker Players Alliance PAC declined by more than half since the shutdowns, and the PPA has reduced its spending on lobbyists by about 20 percent.
 
Nevertheless, the PPA spent $315,000 on lobbying in the first quarter of 2012 , along with substantial spending from the Interactive Gaming Council, which put up a little less than usual at $210,000.
 
In related news, Politico also reports that PPA exec director John Pappas believes that Washington DC lobbyists are "…looking for just about anything that’s moving to hitch a ride for online poker – and that includes cyber security legalization."
 
Pappas said that internet gambling legalization supporters are pitching Web poker legalization as a consumer protection measure, and a tool to help clamp down on money laundering and fraud.
 
“As much as this [Cyber Security] is about getting people the right to play online,” Pappas said, “It’s also  about giving law enforcement clear direction on how to enforce the law.”