The Poker Players Alliance just launched a newly revamped website designed to give its annual dues-paying members more poker resources, a stronger poker legal connection, better organization, an overall stronger poker community, and a say on the make-up of the largest poker lobbying site’s board of directors.
“What we’re really aiming to do here is to take our million membership and turn them all into dues-paying members of the organization,” said John Pappas, PPA president. “But it’s also about giving the poker players themselves a little more access to how the PPA is run, as well, because as a dues-paying member, you will have a say on the make-up of the PPA board of directors through an annual board meeting vote. We thought that was an important step.”
The site, modeled after the current presidential candidates’ sites, will feature blogs talking about legal poker issues and actually playing the game (Daniel Negreanu has just signed on as a blogger), videos featuring the players fighting for poker across the country, and a new forum that allows players from individual states to connect with regional people interested in the poker fight.
Although the front page of the site is still a good resource for people interested in poker and law, the really good stuff requires a username and password and is only available to annual dues-paying members.
Annual premium membership costs $20 and gives members access to action alerts at local, state, and federal levels, the ability to easily contact politicians, the ability to post and take part in the forums, and to the blogs. Dues-paying members will also be able to have a say in who actually sits on the PPA’s board of directors through a yearly vote.
And, as a bonus, players who sign up for a premium membership will also gain membership to OneBigPlanet, a membership-based consumer portal that gives it members discounts at online stores worldwide. Also, anyone who signs up with the PPA before June 10 and makes at least one purchase through OneBigPlanet will be entered into a drawing wherein the winner receives an entry in the World Series of Poker $10,000 main event.
Pappas said he hates to think that people would sign up just to take advantage of the deals offered by partnering with OneBigPlanet, but he realizes that the poker community might find it as a value service. It’s all about getting people to the site. If they do that, they might like what they see, Pappas said.
“You have got to get people in the door, get them interested, and show them what you’re doing for their dollars,” Pappas said. “We’re asking the poker community, ‘If you like what you’re seeing, continue to support us, and we’re going to open access to you guys so you guys can give us direct feedback.’”
Pappas will be at the World Series of Poker this summer during the Poker Life trade show, where the PPA will be signing up players and getting them registered to vote at what they are calling an “advocacy” booth. The PPA has also been making appearance on the court steps wherever poker is being put on trial across the country. For example, members Barry Greenstein and Andy Bloch just showed up in Washington State to support a case that would change a law there that makes online poker a felony.
Videos of their appearance can be found on the PPA website.
