The Poker Players Alliance, poker's leading grassroots advocacy group with over 1 million members, was spotted recently at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) attempting to prove to some of the game's toughest critics that poker is a game of skill that deserves to be regulated, according to a recent article in the Washington Times.

One of those representing the PPA at the conference was 2004 World Series of Poker champion Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, who signed many autographs while subtly making the case for the regulation of online poker.

The Conservative Political Action Conference is a more than 30 year-old annual get-together hosted by the American Conservative Union. As it's not officially affiliated with the Republican Party, CPAC attracts student activists, elected officials, religious leaders and political celebrities across the entire conservative spectrum, including Libertarians like Raymer, who recently considered running as the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee.

Although overall surprisingly well received, the PPA booth did attract some negative attention from some of the pro-family conservatives in attendance, who seem primarily concerned with how legalized online poker may impact minors when their parents aren't around, according to the Times article.


Story by Mark Anderson