Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.
With the U.S. Senate scheduled to reconvene next week, opponents of a measure that would severely restrict Internet gambling by Americans are on high alert.
Groups monitoring the legislation include privacy advocates, Texas hold 'em sit-n-go tournament junkies and diehard Let It Ride loyalists.
It's a disparate collection united by a single philosophy - allowing the federal government to forbid people from gambling on their computers would be the most un-American of activities.
There are the civil libertarians, aghast at the House of Representatives' lopsided vote last month in favor of House Resolution 4411, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
Expressing concern that the nation's government is starting to resemble a theocracy, they quote Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., on the bill: "What kind of social, cultural authoritarianism are we practicing here? The fundamental principle of the autonomy of the individual is at stake."
They point out that House Republicans - representing the party that once upon a time professed to champion such quaint causes as individual freedom and a less intrusive government - voted for the bill by a staggering 201-17.
There are those who rely on affiliations with online poker sites to make a living. (The sites are based offshore, outside of the realm of U.S. law.)
Included are prominent poker pros such as Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer and Greg Raymer of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), a political group that represents poker players' interests.
The PPA maintained a visible presence at the World Series of Poker at the Rio, where the organization's president, Michael Bolcerek, said at a rally last month, "Remember that number of online poker players 23 million. If Congress had heard from even half of these poker players, I dare to say the vote in Congress may have been different."
Then there are those who might not have a business relationship with a poker site but just love - or live - to play.
Dan Cypra of Pocketfives.com, a poker discussion Web site, said the legislation - which would effectively lower the boom on online poker as well as other forms of Internet gambling - is a hot topic among members.
"As a community of online poker players, we are the people who would be affected by this," Cypra said. "From our perspective, the most important window is about the next four weeks (through the Senate's scheduled adjournment on Oct. 6). Anyone who is concerned about this, we're urging them to contact their senators."
Matt Smith, a 2005 Florida State grad, is a highly ranked online tournament player and one of Pocketfives.com's most respected members, Cypra said.
"I'm nervous because, if (the legislation) were to pass and be enforced, I would need to get a job outside of poker or have to travel to major live poker tournaments," Smith said.
His comments echo those of another young poker pro, Ian Johns of Seattle, who won a limit hold 'em tournament at the World Series of Poker. Johns was shocked when Washington state made it a felony to play poker online.
"It's ridiculous," he said.
At the World Series, Johns says he stopped playing online when the law went into effect June 7 and will be forced to move out of Washington because of the law.
Organizers of Keepthefreedom.org, a new group urging poker players to sign an "e-petition" protesting the legislation, consider it a travesty that poker, a skill-based game with a rich tradition in America, has been lumped in with games of chance such as roulette and online slots.
The free site allows players to contact their congressional representatives and offers updates of the legislation's progress. It claims almost 3,000 members.
"It's an unknown realm, and I think everyone's a little bit anxious, especially with the Senate reconvening," said a Keepthefreedom.org spokesman, a lifelong poker player who is keeping his identity secret because he is concerned about the governmental "authoritarianism" cited by Frank.
"It kind of ruffles our feathers to think that with the signing of this bill some of our freedom could be taken away."
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