For Online Poker: Champ Greg Raymer and FairPlayUSA

FairPlayUSA, with 2004 WSOP Champ Greg Raymer, announced the formation of a non-profit effort to promote online internet poker In the United States. Financed by twin icons of the casino industry, Caesars and MGM, FairPlayUSA was started on Tuesday.

The organization's stated goal is to "educate policymakers and the public on the broad public policy interests raised by the current ambiguous laws in the U.S. that have led to millions of Americans gambling on the Internet."

Poker champion Greg Raymer, winner of the 2004 main event at the World Series of Poker, is a member of FairPlayUSA's advisory board, as is former Governor of Pennsylvania and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Champ Raymer, also a member of the board of the Poker Player's Alliance or PPA, was initially hesitant to commit to FairPlayUSA. In the end, he was convinced that the group would assist in the much-needed call for new legislation at the federal level.

Raymer explained his decision by stating that “Down the road if there was a conflict between what is best for these companies and what is best for the players that might be a concern. However, I was convinced that the interests of the players and the interests of the people starting this organization are aligned, at least at this point in time.”
Ramer, who receives no payment for his association with FairPlayUSA, expressed his belief that FairPlayUSA is interested in involving additional non-internet casinos in this effort. He explained that “this isn’t just about [Caesars and MGM].”

According to Raymer, "... in order to get support from people like Kyl and Bachus [federal legislators], we need to give them something they want. And they want to stop online gambling. So, we convince them poker is a game of skill, and that it should be licensed and regulate."