The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is an American nonprofit Interest group formed to "to speak with one voice to promote poker, and to protect the players' rights." The PPA formed to serve as an advocacy group to Washington to establish rights and protections for U.S. poker players. Within the first year of its existence, the PPA garnered over 600,000 members.Polson, Sarah. PPA issues letter of support from players PokerListings.com November 7, 2006 accessed 7/9/07Email "A message from Alfonse D'Amato" to PPA members 7/19/07 In April 2008, the PPA claimed to have signed up its one millionth member. Membership growth has been due in part to promotional activities by online poker cardrooms like Party Poker.

This organization unsuccessfully lobbied against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which prohibited financial institutions from making payments to internet gambling sites.House of Representative Questions and Answers Many online poker sites suspended U.S. operations. Other sites have continued to serve U.S. customers, citing legal opinions that UIGEA does not apply to poker.

Advocacy

The PPA aims to get laws such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 overturned either through political or judicial means. For example, the PPA in conjunction with online poker sites, dedicated June 15, 2006 as "Write Your Congressmen Day." Another example is the "PPA Fly-In", where around 100 members and many professional poker players, including Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson, flew to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress for poker rights.

The PPA supports several bills currently in Congress that amend UIGEA. The Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610), proposed by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), provides an exemption to UIGEA for games of skill, including poker, mah jong, bridge, and other games. As of December 15, 2007, HR 2610 has 20 cosponsors. The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2046), proposed by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), provides for federal licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. As of December 15, this bill has 45 cosponsors.. The Internet Gambling Study Act (H.R. 2140), proposed by Rep. Shelly Berkley (D-NV), provides for a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of Internet gambling. As of December 15, this bill has 68 cosponsors..

The PPA hired former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato as its chairman. In an interview with Cardplayer Magazine, he said "What really needs to happen is to have a legitimate house, a fair game, and a fair operator, and not take away from 20-plus-million citizens who play poker the opportunity to play poker on the Internet."Can Alfonse D'Amato Save Poker? Former New York Senator Joins the Poker Players Alliance D'Amato went on to point out that under the current legislation, that the companies "with good business practices" could potentially be replaced by "those who do not care" because the U.S. is driving "the industry offshore, where we have no regulation and no controls."