GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 15 - January 2011

by J. Todd, Executive Director, APCW I understand that some people have a moral objection to gambling. I know that nothing I say or do will ever change their beliefs about our industry. In a way, I admire their convictions, and someone who fights against regulation based on those convictions will never earn a spot on the APCW’s Wall of Shame. Hypocritical politicians, on the other hand . . . well, our Wall of Shame is littered with them. And the latest sanctimonious statesperson to grace our wall hails from my home state. Washington State Senator Margarita Prentice was the guiding force behind a 2006 state law that made playing online poker and casino games a Class C felony. Last year, when the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional, PokerStars and Full Tilt decided that it was in their best interests to block players in the state from playing real-money games on their sites. This, combined with the fact that Prentice accepted campaign contributions from the tribes that run brick and mortar casinos, would be enough to land her on our Wall of Shame. But it’s her reaction to the idea that professional poker players may be forced to consider moving out of the state that got our attention at the APCW. “You mean you’re going to move so you can play poker?” Prentice asked rhetorically in an interview with ESPN.com’s Gary Wise. “Gee, lots of luck in your life. . . . I have nothing against card playing. That’s fine. If you want to do that, but I’m sure not going to worry about someone . . . you know. Let them go pump gas.” So let me get this straight, Margarita (by the way, I take mine with salt). You have no problemwith card playing, so long as it supports the tribal casinos that fund your campaigns? Prentice’s condescending attitude toward the game got well- deserved derision in the poker community. Poker Players Alliance Chairman Alfonse D’Amato said she “denigrates both poker players and people who pump gas.” Welcome to ourWall of Shame, Margarita. Your hypocritical stance on gambling puts you in a league with many others before you. WALL OF SHAME Washington State Senator Margarita Prentice APCW’s Wall of Shame