The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) announced Wednesday that it has rebranded itself as the Poker Alliance and will now be led by Mark Brenner, billed as a “longtime business development and government relations executive.” What the Poker Alliance did not say in its news release today, though, is that this rebranding and new leadership is part of the organization’s acquisition by poker media company Poker Central.
The PPA began more than a decade ago as a “grassroots” poker advocacy group, working to get anti-online poker laws like the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) overturned. As time has gone on, the organization has also worked to not just get anti-poker laws reversed, but also to see poker legalization and regulation bills advanced through legislatures.
While the PPA – now Poker Alliance – has seen its share of successes, it has also be criticized by poker players for its failures. Players have been especially critical of the PPA for seeming to align itself more with corporate interests – online poker rooms, specifically – rather than the players.
Piggy Bank Has Been Dry
In February, PPA Executive Director John Pappas stepped down, replaced by Vice President of Player Relations Rich Muny. Later that month, Muny announced that the organization was in dire financial straits and that it needed to raise $25,000 by the end of March to continue operating. It raised only about a quarter of that.
The acquisition by Poker Central is almost certainly a means to remedy the money issue, as the Poker Alliance will no longer have to rely on individual donations for its funding. In a Frequently Asked Questions page on its new website, the Poker Alliance says, “Funding will come from industry participants, including Poker Central, as one of many businesses, resorts, hotels, casinos, gaming applications or platforms, etc.”
Should Still be Business as Usual
The Poker Alliance will still advocate for poker, simply asking its membership to support it through activism rather than financial donations. In fact, it looks like the focus of the Poker Alliance will be solely poker, particularly because it is Poker Central that has acquired the organization. Earlier this year, Rich Muny sent a survey to members to gauge interest in the idea of expanding into sports betting advocacy. That idea, it seems, has been set to the side.
“As gaming culture and the laws around it have shifted, so too has our focus,” said Mark Brenner in the press release. “Poker players deserve to be able to play poker with confidence and safety, and we will expand the PPA’s incredible effort by strategically advocating for our members.”
“I’m very optimistic about Poker Alliance’s potential to bring new innovations and a different skill set to the fight for poker, serving its membership and consumers in general,” said Muny. “Along with my fellow advisors to the new leadership, I look forward to advocating for the great game of poker as part of Poker Alliance.”
Both Rich Muny and John Pappas will serve as advisors to the Poker Alliance for at least three months. The future makeup of the Poker Alliance’s Board of Directors will be announced at a later date.
