The group which has been at the head of the battle to legalize online poker in the United States, the Poker Players Alliance, has sent out an SOS for donations. The PPA, under new leadership as of this month, believes that without the desperately needed funds, the group will be unable to continue with its work.
Earlier this month, the long-running president of the PPA, John Pappas, announced his resignation, with the group’s vice President, Rich Muny, already stepping into his shoes.
Muny has recognized that without an infusion of cash, the PPA won’t be able to fight the battle for its million or so members and this week put out a desperate call for funds via the group’s mailing list.
“Over the past several months, we have been adjusting to a significant reduction in donations from the internet gaming industry, this despite our successes in Pennsylvania just a few months ago,” wrote Muny. “We now find ourselves possibly shutting down right before what could be the biggest year for iPoker and iGaming yet.”
Muny stressed the need to meet a $25,000 fund raising goal by the end of March, adding that with the support of poker players and enthusiasts, it would be relatively easy to reach the goal.
“Every dollar donated will go toward core operational expenses of our grassroots communications and advocacy, as our communications tools are crucial to PPA’s mission,” Muny concluded. “Please be sure to help ensure PPA’s continued leadership for our game!”
The PPA was founded in the days before the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, and most of its activities were funded by donations by US poker players. However, a lot of faith was lost in the organization – whether justifiably or not – when the UIGEA was voted in.
The donations that stopped coming in from the players was supplemented by online poker sites in whose interest it was to keep the game alive in the US. Even four years ago, the PPA was able to draw in $5 million each year through donations, but that amount has now dropped to less than half.
Some say that Pappas departed the group since he doesn’t believe its activities bearing fruit. Others have suggested that the PPA widen its activities to lobby for regulated sports betting in the USA. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for this very vocal lobbying group.
