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Talking Points
  • Technology has progressed to effectively combat problem gambling and ensure that players are of legal age.

  • Billions in potential tax revenue from online poker are being lost under the UIGEA.

  • Appropriate federal regulation can ensure that minors are kept out of sites, services are provided to problem gamblers and the proper taxes are collected.

  • Prohibitions don't work. The UIGEA effectively bans online poker in the U.S. and drives those players underground. Meanwhile, poker continues to grow in popularity nationwide. 75 percent of Americans oppose banning online poker.

  • If Congress allows me to bet on horses and state lotteries online, why can't I play a skill game like poker with other consenting adults?

  • Please co-sponsor and support HR 2046 "Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act" and HR 2610 "Skill Game Protection Act".

Federal Legislation


Recent Polls, Studies, Surveys:

01/03/08 AGA State of States 2007

12/06/07 PricewaterhouseCoopers Estimate Of Federal Revenue Effect Of Proposal To Regulate And Tax Online Gambling

10/21/07 RT Strategies National Omnibus Poll

eCOGRA Global Online Gambler Report 2007


British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 (182 pages)

Statistics about Poker in the U.S.

1. Estimated 55 million Americans played poker in 2005 (source: Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, 2006)

2. Estimated 15 Million Americans play online poker for money (source: Ipsos-Reid, 2005)

3. 74% of Americans oppose a ban on internet poker (source: ICR, 2006)

4. 91% of Americans believe that all online gambling should be legalized in the United States (source: CNBC)

5. 78% of Americans do not think it is appropriate for the federal government to restrict what adults do on the Internet in the privacy of their own homes. (source: Zogby International, 2006)

6. $3.3 Billion could be raised for the federal government if the U.S. simply regulated the game (source: Internet Poker Industry and Revenue Analysis by Judy Xanthopoulos, Ph.D., 2006)

7. U.S. players represent at least 75 percent and as much as 90 percent of all Internet poker players (source: MECN, 2005)

8. Estimated 2.9 million young people between the ages of 14 and 22 gamble on cards on a weekly basis. (source: Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2005)
[note: PPA believes that poker is an adult game and that children should be actively prohibited from playing online.]

More information:


American Gaming Association's State of States Archive

Ark Sports Limited's The Global Business of Poker Report (2006) [summary]

MECN's Online Poker – Driving Gambling to New Heights (2005) [summary]

National Annenberg Risk Survey of Youth - Card Playing Trend in Young People Continues (2005) [press release]
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