National Poker Week USA Dates Announced

Published: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Online-Casinos.com

National Poker Week, in the USA has been set for July 19-25, 2009. Announced at a press conference at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino on June 22 by the PPA or Poker Players Alliance the group took the opportunity to launch new online sites created to increase participation in the political process for poker players. The build up leading to National Poker Week will include a Poker Players Alliance rally in Washington D.C. where dozens of high-profile professionals and state PPA representatives are expected show their support for the game.

PPA Executive Director John Pappas opened the press conference and later detailed some of the organizations proposals. Speeches from PPA Chairman Alfonse D'Amato and U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), were short but effective. High profile PPA board members Linda Johnson and Greg Raymer also made brief appearances.

D'Amato took part in his first World Series of Poker at the Seniors event. Shelley Berkley gave the traditional "Shuffle Up and Deal!" command to the Seniors players after her appearance.

The best part of the press conference was Pappas outlining several new initiatives, including the possibility of the reintroduction of a "skill games" bill by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). This second go-round for the bill would provide an exemption for games of skill to be played online, separating them from casino forms of gambling such as slots and roulette. Games such as poker, backgammon and mahjongg are to be included in the proposed bill.

Three separate participatory programs were also launched with the purpose of increasing awareness of the game at the federal and state levels. The three programs contain a dedicated web site for each one. The first is nationalpokerweek.com and it includes a full slate of events and instructions for players to get their concerns heard by the representatives.

The second web page, at pokerpetition.com, includes an online petition that may see hundreds of thousands of poker players taking part.

The third web site mypokerstory.com which is designed to change the old stereotypical perception that people have of the game and it's players. A contest is included with each participant invited to share a story about how he or she got involved in poker and what the game means to him or her. A prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas has been kindly donated by Harrah's for the winner of the best story.