Are State Prosecutors Against the ICGPA?

Our three years of operations suggest that they are not. In spite of any opinion to the contrary, we have had very cordial and respectful treatment from the State and County prosecutors. In fact, we feel that the sensible prosecutors are cheering us on. And, they have good reason to root for us---policing the game of poker is just too gigantic a task for any enforcement agency. The game has become too popular and widespread to control by edict.

It is anyone’s guess as to how old the game of poker might be; it has been a profession in this country for over three hundred years. Few sports and strategic competitions are older than poker; outside of track and field events (archery and golf are the only two that come quickly to mind). Sadly, poker is the only one that has never bothered to organize itself. The International Card & Game Players Association was founded to do just that; organize the millions of poker and professional game players into a voice for reason and fairness.

As the legendary Doc Holiday proclaimed in the 1800’s “Poker is an honest trade”. We know this to be a true statement. And, in light of the global popularity of the professional game, we must insist on the right to organize our game for our own welfare and safety. For far too long, state and local prohibitions, have forced our professional players to endure insults; along with the degrading, and unfair misnomer of gamblers and quasi criminals. We will no longer suffer these insults in silence. The new period of poker enlightenment is just beginning to unfold. 

Fortunately, the technology of the Twenty-first Century has helped to make clear to the World the skills and nuances of the game of poker. Only uninformed and misguided individuals still perceive poker as mere chance gambling. It is patently absurd to suggest that poker is not a legitimate worldwide sport and strategic contest. It is the third highest watched sporting event on ESPN! It is clearly a bona fide business.

Poker has now crossed over to other formats; the national networks compete with cable for poker programs. CNN produced a panel discussion group set at a hold’em table; each reporter taking turns reporting on their topic as the dealer button passed. Wikipedia list 197 pages of poker terms in their glossary of poker terms. Here are a few of the better known terms from the lexicon of poker; “call your bluff”, raise, check, hold’em, fold’em, all-in and busted. The game of poker has permeated our culture and our language; it has impacted our lexicon to where virtually every one, regardless of sex, age, or nationality understands the jargon of the game.

Poker is not only a global business; it is a multi billion dollar business. Unfortunately, a multi billion dollar business that (due too improper public policy) has been forced to store much of its’ capital in shoe boxes and coffee cans. This fact has not escaped the notice of many in law enforcement that have no desire to assume the burden of policing and regulating the industry. With eighty million players nationwide, poker can afford to self police and regulate itself. Our experience in the last three years is that knowledgeable law enforcement authorities in Arizona want the poker industry to self police. That is what the ICGPA, along with the Arizona Card Room, Inc. is designed to accomplish.

For far too long our professional players have suffered under grossly unfair public policies. However, we recognize from the support we have received over the last three years, that responsible public leadership is beginning to abandoned those misguided policies. Those wrong thinking policies have forced this benign strategic competition into insalubrious, unsafe venues, where criminals have abused the players with impunity for decades. The ICGPA intends to see it stop. We are ready to defend the rights and freedoms of our adult citizens to test their skills in the World’s most popular card game.

Harold Lee Director---ICGPA

July 11, 2008