Major industry players give their reaction to indictments
It has been almost two weeks since Black Friday rocked the online poker world. We take a look at some of the reactions from major industry players over the past week.
One of the first relationships to break down was Steve Wynn’s alliance with PokerStars, just two weeks after the partnership was formed.
In a statement released by Wynn’s company, they said: “Wynn Resorts Limited has terminated its alliance with PokerStars, the online poker company. The decision was reached as a result of the indictment unsealed by the US Attorney General.”
But Wynn is still calling for a change in the US, saying: “The situation cries out for regulation so that states can get money at a time when they need money and the federal government can get some money when it could use it. It seems like an intelligent thing to sit down and regulate.”
Poker Players Alliance executive director John Pappas has also been very vocal about his concerns for online poker in the US, saying the situation in the US can go one of two ways.
He said: “One way, Congress becomes too scared to deal with this issue. Or Congress will realise that, to millions of Americans, this is their hobby and sometimes livelihood, and they need to make it legalised for them to play.
“The next month is going to be our month to either seize or lose. If we want our game back the PPA and PPA members, and the poker community at large, really needs to activate.”
Calls for change
In the week following the indictments, PPA members sent over
70,000 emails to Congress and the White House, prompting the Department
of Justice to give the domain names back to PokerStars and Full Tilt, so
players could get their money back.
Ceasers Entertainment CEO and Chairmen Gary Loveman has also called for change following Black Friday.
He said: “Should we seize the moment to legalize online poker, permit
a safe and legitimate industry in the US, and bring those jobs and
revenues home? Unequivocally, the answer is yes.
“In short, we should recognise the reality of the world we live in,
protect the interests of law abiding citizens who want to play a little
poker from the privacy of their homes, create thousands of new jobs, and
produce millions of dollars in new economic activity.”
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