Rally for Online Poker Held at U.S. Capitol

Supporters of online poker regulation gathered at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, arguing that the United States would do far better by taxing online poker play than by attempting to stamp it out.

According to the USA Today, about 50-75 participants took part in the rally, which was organized by the Poker Players Alliance. The rally came on the heels of a second round of indictments aimed at online gambling companies.

The first action by the US Government – known as Black Friday – took place on April 15, and targeted PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, the three largest online poker rooms operating inside the United States. Earlier this week, new indictments were leveled against ten different sites that offered a variety of online gambling services. The majority of the sites offered sports betting services, but bingo, casino, and poker sites were also included, including DoylesRoom.com and TruePoker.com.

Before the rally, PPA chairman Alfonse D’Amato said that the recent crackdown is the wrong track for the federal government to be taking on online poker.

"I don't think the Congress of the United States should be prohibiting people from playing poker in their own home," USA Today quoted D’Amato as saying. "By making it a crime for the financial institutions to carry out the transactions, they have essentially said, 'We're coming into your home because we've determined that you should not be playing poker on the Internet.' "

Several prominent speakers appeared at the rally. Legislators including Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) and Representative John Campbell (R-CA) spoke about the possibility of regulatory legislation being passed during the current Congressional session. Campbell is the co-sponsor of a House bill that would regulate and tax online gambling.

In addition, two famous faces from the world of poker were on hand to give remarks. Greg Raymer, who won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2004, spoke to the large number of Americans who play poker online. Linda Johnson, known as the “First Lady of Poker,” asked why Americans don’t have the same rights to play poker online that citizens in most other countries enjoy.