With the organization growing leaps and bounds, Jim Tabilio has left his post after founding the Poker Voters of America, an advocacy group that promotes protection of online poker players in California and around the United States.
Tabilio founded Poker Voters of America two years ago. He was well-suited for the role, having served as a poker player and political consultant. Now, Melanie Brenner has assumed the role of Executive Director and told Poker News Daily why Tabilio stepped down: “Jim has a family and is at a point in his life where he has other things he wants to do. This has been extremely time consuming, especially when the decision was made that we could do this in other states. It was a unique opportunity since states are looking for revenue.” Tabilio will remain on in an advisory role.
California is one of many states actively searching for new forms of revenue in the wake of budget shortfalls caused by a severe economic downturn. Brenner explained what could occur: “There are going to be big budget shortfalls that may make a lot of the challenges against legalized online poker evaporate. When you’re able to say to a legislator that it’s about revenue, they know the state needs it. You’re spending millions of dollars protecting live poker players, but there are a lot of other players not being protected online.” Brenner noted that she expects movement towards legalized and regulated intrastate poker in California in the near future.
According to eGaming Review and H2 Gambling Capital, legalizing intrastate online poker in California could generate $250 million per year for 10 years and $625 million per year after that. Brenner added that Poker Voters of America is also hard at work in Florida pushing for intrastate online poker. As such, she is constantly traveling back and forth to promote the organization’s agenda. Brenner explained, “The biggest pushback we get is that legalizing online poker is just the tip of the iceberg. With that kind of mentality, nothing gets done.”
During National Poker Week, over 30 State Directors of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and a handful of the game’s elite descended on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to call for the legalization and regulation of online poker in the United States. Poker News Daily was also on the scene in the nation’s capital. Several obstacles we ran into were Congressmen and their staffers not understanding how to play online poker, what safeguards are in effect to combat underage and problem gambling, and how deposits and cashouts work. Brenner told Poker News Daily, “The major challenge hasn’t been on the legislative side, it’s been educating the stakeholders on how online poker works. It’s been fascinating talking with legislators about online poker.”
In addition to California and Florida, the Poker Voters of America is directing its attention towards New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. In each case, local casinos would likely be able to open their own online poker rooms, although Brenner noted that several are apprehensive for fear that it will cannibalize their live business. The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California is set to play host to the World Poker Tour’s (WPT) Legends of Poker Main Event on August 22nd. The $10,000 buy-in tournament will crown a champion four days later. In February, the WPT returns to the state for the Commerce Casino’s L.A. Poker Classic. A Celebrity Invitational follows the $10,000 buy-in event.
Membership to the Poker Voters of America is free and requires a person’s first name, last name, e-mail address, and mailing address. Becoming a part of the PPA is also free, although a premium membership is available for $20 per year.