Poker Players Alliance Could Shut Down If Supporters Don’t Bail Them Out Financially

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has been one of the biggest campaigners when it comes to the legalization of online gambling in America. The organisation once had millions of dollars in funds and was a loud voice in the poker industry.

Things have changed considerably for the PPA as the organisation finds itself in financial trouble and struggles to keep itself afloat. The PPA has called on its supporters for donations in order to remain open and continue its fight for online poker to be legalized throughout America.

Earlier in February, PPA Executive Director John Pappas stepped down from his post to become a strategic advisor to the organization, leaving Vice President Rich Muny to take on the responsibility of being the new PPA President. There were many speculations regarding his resignation from the post, since he served for more than ten years in his post. One of the rumored reasons for his resignation was the organization’s struggle with funding.

PPA Asks Supporters To Send In Donations

Vice President Muny has confirmed those rumours after the PPA announced that they were struggling with their finances. Pleading directly to its supporters, the PPA acknowledged that they are currently in “period of challenge” as they have spent the last several months readjusting to the significant decline in donations from the online gaming industry. In fact, the circumstances are so dire that they are hinting of shutting down if they are unable to pool together the money they need.

In the statement, Muny said,

“We now find ourselves possibly shutting down right before what could be the biggest year for iPoker and iGaming yet. PPA cannot continue fighting for poker if we do not meet our fundraising goal of $25,000 by the end of March. Every dollar donated will go toward core operational expenses of our grassroots communications and advocacy.”

Funding Declines Due To Lack Of Progress

The news shook the community since the PPA has been on the forefront of the online and offline poker fight for years. The PPA once had millions of dollars in their expense accounts and channelled $2.1 million to the online poker lobby in 2007 and $1.9 million in 2009. Those good times did not last long as the PPA saw a decline in its funding, reaching $350,000 in 2013.

Last year, the PPA revealed that they could only channel $105,000 in lobbying efforts. Given the fact that Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online gambling in 2017 and the PPA played a big role in this effort, one would have thought funding to the PPA would have increased.

However the PPA has not had a lot of success in the last few years with regards to the legalization of online poker. As a result, donors have backed out and decided to cut down their funding as the results have not been up to expectations when it comes to the legalization of online poker.