On Monday, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the 1.2 million member strong lobbying voice for poker players in the United States, welcomed a new Board member into its ranks. Patrick “Skallagrim” Fleming, who manages the PPA’s Litigation Network, will bring insight to the Board as the organization heads into 2011.
PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato commented in a press release sent by the lobbying organization on Monday, “Patrick is one of the poker community’s staunchest champions, donating his time and legal expertise to help PPA members navigate the often murky waters regarding poker’s legal status. I am so pleased that he will be joining the Board of Directors as we work together to guide the organization’s efforts to provide a safe, regulated environment for poker players in the U.S.”
Fleming is an attorney by trade and, according to the same press release, got his start in the organization following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006: “Dismayed at the government’s effort to restrict his right to play online poker by passing the UIGEA, Fleming joined the PPA and began leveraging his legal expertise to post about legal challenges on various poker forums.” Two years ago, Fleming pitched the idea of a Litigation Network, which matches online poker players needing legal assistance with pre-screened local counsel.
PPA Executive Director John Pappas is also looking forward to welcoming Fleming into the fold: “Without Patrick’s guidance and expertise, the PPA would not be nearly as well positioned from a legal perspective to provide support and testimony in the legal cases impacting poker across the nation… It is a true pleasure to work with Patrick and I look forward to the ideas and insights I am certain he will bring in his role on the Board of Directors.”
Fleming’s compatriots on the PPA’s Board of Directors include D’Amato, Pappas, former World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Chris Ferguson, Women in Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, Full Tilt Poker front man Howard Lederer, 2004 Main Event champ Greg Raymer, and PPA Kentucky State Director Rich “TheEngineer” Muny.
Fleming hails from New Hampshire and will join the Board of an organization that continues to press for licensed and regulated online poker in the United States. The PPA is in the midst of pushing Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, which was marked up by the House Financial Services Committee in July. HR 2267 sports 70 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle, but will be deemed “dead” if not acted on by the end of the current Congress in January.
The PPA’s Litigation Network has been instrumental in arguing poker cases in states like South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Pappas posted on TwoPlusTwo that Fleming was in the midst of attending a charity event in his home state of New Hampshire: “I actually have the privilege of being with Skall at this very moment. We are in Plaistow, NH at the Granite State Poker room for a charity event. New Hampshire native Howard Lederer will be here too, as well as special guest Congressman Paul Hodes, who is running for the U.S. Senate.” Hodes is running against former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who signed a letter opposing internet gambling legislation in 2007.
The PPA recently released its 2010 Congressional Ratings Guide in advance of next week’s general elections in the United States. The organization assigned letter grades to each Congressman running to give players guidance on who to vote for. In addition, Poker PAC, the PPA’s political action committee, recently announced endorsements of 58 lawmakers. Visit ThePPA.org for more information.