I’m always mentioning the Poker Players Alliance or PPA on this blog but don’t really ever explain who they are and what they stand for. It seemed like it was a good time to talk about PPA in depth what with the Full Tilt meltdown and the possible online gaming legislation on the table. The PPA isn’t some governmental organization or a group of high minded civil interest groups. It’s an organization of poker players, professional and amateur, on and offline, who want to provide a voice for players in regarding to potential gaming and poker legislation. Think of them as lobbyists for poker. PPA stands for safe and secure poker play and consumer rights for online poker players. They believe poker to be a game of skill rather than just another form of gambling and work hard to educate people on the issues confronting poker players around the world but especially in the United States. As they state in their own mission statement the PPA wants to: “establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play. Through education and awareness the PPA will keep this game of skill, one of America’s oldest recreational activities, free from egregious government intervention and misguided laws.” Putting it simply the PPA are pro poker and pro poker players. Not all players agree with them but most recognize their heart is in the right place. And certainly when there is an issue, potential law or disputed regulation you can count on the PPA to show up, educate and represent. We all talk about standing up for our right to play poker but the PPA actually does it. The PPA’s website offers resources for political action, press releases on current poker news and explanations of proposed and current gaming and poker laws. The major topic PPA works on is the 2006 Internet Gaming Law and trying to have it amended to better suit the poker players. They offer a chance to donate and get involved and if that’s too much the name and e-mail of your local representatives. I’m not for or against the PPA but I recommend any serious poker player take a few minutes to check them out and formulate an opinion. An informed poker player is a powerful poker player.