Alfonse D’Amato puts his case to House Committee

Earlier today Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (“PPA”) and former US Senator, put his case for regulated of online poker in the US to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade (subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce).

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the merits of replacing the current stance toward online poker with a licensed and regulated industry, particularly with regard to the question of consumer protection.

A video recording of D’Amato’s testimony is set out below.  A complete collection of all videos covering the entire hearing is set out at the PPA website.

I didn’t watch all the videos, but from those viewed, it seems the usual for and against arguments were raised by attendees; that is:

• For: Americans are playing poker online anyway, so why not provide a regulated industry with stronger consumer protection mechanisms.
• Against: regulation will encourage more players to play and therefore lead to more problem gambling.

D’Amato’s articulation of the ‘for’ argument likened the current UIGEA laws to America’s old prohibition laws; well intended but largely missing the mark.  He argued that, “internet poker has not gone away…it takes place under the radar” and cited Full Tilt Poker ‘s improper use of player funds as an example of the type of operator mischief that is far more likely to occur in the absence of robust local regulation.

He closed by saying that the House had an, “opportunity to permit a great game that requires skill to be played in peoples homes.”

Something I did find interesting was the fact that the PPA now has 1.2 million members. That kind of support will no doubt help them to get their voice heard by Congress.