Poker Players Alliance Renews Objection to Internet Gambling Ban, Points to Survey as Support

Poll Finds Nearly 75% of the Public Opposes Federal Ban

By: PR Newswire

Apr. 4, 2006 05:04 PM

WASHINGTON, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- At a roundtable panel discussion today, The Poker Players Alliance, a grassroots organization of more than 20,000 American poker players, renewed its objection to online gambling prohibition, highlighting a new survey by ICR market research that finds nearly 75 percent of Americans oppose moves by Congress to ban Internet poker. A more detailed breakdown of poll results follows this release.

"The new poll results are a clear illustration of the public's feelings on this issue. Simply put, people don't want their member of Congress telling them what they can and cannot do in their own home -- especially when it comes to a game that's as all-American as jazz or basketball," said Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance.

Three of the biggest names in poker -- Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson and Greg Raymer -- and Radley Balko of the Cato Institute joined Bolcerek on the panel, each explaining why efforts to ban online gambling are misguided.

"We are here today to speak about the growing threat to poker as it relates to the online game," said Bolcerek. "We are here to defend the game and express our opposition to Congress' efforts to kill the sport and restrict our civil liberties."

The Poker Players Alliance opposes any effort to limit the rights of poker players to enjoy the game as they do today whether it is online, at a poker club or in the privacy of their own homes.

The Poker Players Alliance http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/ is a non- profit organization advocating on behalf of American poker players.

The following survey was conducted on March 29, 2006 by ICR, an independent market research supplier located in Media, PA. The results reflect a randomly selected group of 964 adults. Those selected were read a series of questions and asked to respond with "yes," "no," or "I don't know." The results of the survey are listed below.

Question #1: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 5% 90% 4.5% 0.4% 49 868 43 4

Question #2: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker in Las Vegas?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 5.5% 90.7% 3.3% 0.5% 53 874 32 5

Question #3: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker in Casinos on Indian Reservations?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 8.3% 86.6% 4.6% 0.5% 80 835 44 5

Question #4: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker for charitable fundraisers?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 8.1% 86.9% 4.4% 0.6% 78 838 42 6

Question #5: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker on the Internet?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 18% 74.2% 7.4% 0.4% 174 715 71 4

Question #6: "Should the federal government prevent Americans from playing poker in the privacy of your own home?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 3% 94.7% 1.8% 0.5% 29 913 17 5

Question #7: "Do you believe the federal government should be managing Americans gambling behaviors on the Internet?"

YES NO DON'T KNOW REFUSED 26.9% 66.1% 6.4% 0.6% 259 637 62 6

Poker Players Alliance

CONTACT: Anne Crago of Poker Players Alliance, +1-202-715-1566

Web site: http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/