WHO NEEDS THE INTERNATIONAL POKER ASSOCIATION?

I am proud to welcome our newest blog contributor, Roxanne “Roxci” Rhodes, an avid supporter of poker and member of the newly formed International Poker Association’s steering committee. -PokerProf

The International Poker Association (IPA) is an association of poker players, poker fans and sponsors dedicated to promoting the game of poker worldwide. It is a fledgling group, with an ambitious mission. But ultimately the success of the organization rests in the answer to a simple question, “Who needs the International Poker Association?”

The focus of this organization is simple but essential. The International Poker Association will focus upon that which is good for the game. If the IPA can keep its collective “eye on the ball” then everyone benefits. Although still in its infancy, the IPA has already listed the ethics and integrity of those involved in the game, among its core values. In addition, the group intends to welcome anyone who loves and supports the game into its ranks. Part of the current popularity of poker is the belief that any person, on any given day can compete with and even beat the best players in the world. Only a hand full of people will ever catch a pass thrown by Joe Montana or return a 120 mph serve from Andre Agassi. But anyone with a dream and an entry fee can sit at the same table with Doyle Brunson and compete for money and fame in high stakes tournament poker.

It is the game that needs to be the focus of the organization. The integrity of the game will ensure that the casual fan becomes a recreational player. The accessibility of the game will ensure that the recreational player has a shot at turning pro. The popularity of the game will ensure that the professional who makes a modest living can become a wealthy star.

What is the biggest obstacle to this organization becoming successful? The biggest single obstacle will be if it cannot attract the support necessary to sustain the organization. Membership is key. It is a simple formula; the more members the more money; the more money the more influence; the more influence the more control. The International Poker Association is actively courting all who love the game of poker including all who make their living through the game of poker. The IPA invites active participation from professional poker players, recreational players, fans of the game and sponsors. The IPA Steering Committee, of which I am a member, is currently discussing ways in which to structure levels of membership to be as inclusive as possible.

Who needs the International Poker Association? Why do the top professional players in the game really need an International Poker Association? I believe that every person involved in poker needs the IPA. Poker is experiencing a boom in popularity. Everyone; the professionals, the sponsors, the casinos are all scrambling to cash in before it all goes away. But what if it didn’t go away? No one individual can sustain and promote the growth and popularity of poker. But a collaborative association made up of players, fans and sponsors can make it happen.

The top professionals need the game of poker to remain popular and to continue to grow. Tiger Woods would not be a superstar if his game were not popular. Serena Williams would not be a superstar if her game were not popular. The focus of this organization will be on the game. The players will benefit if the game grows in popularity. Annie Duke would never sit in the hot seat on David Letterman if poker were not popular. Greg Raymer would never be the focus of an extended CNN interview if poker were not popular. And Daniel Negreanu wouldn’t be rubbing elbows with Hollywood’s elite in made for TV celebrity poker tournaments if the game were not popular.

Some top professionals may believe that they have no vested interest in the success of the International Poker Association. Why share the pie when I already have a pretty big piece? Well a smaller piece of a much bigger pie is better than a bigger piece of a much smaller pie. Further, the IPA is working toward ensuring that the pie never goes away. Many of the game’s biggest names have expressed support for the IPA. Great players always make sure their money is on the table when they have the strongest hand.

The popularity of poker is not sustainable unless we make it so. To do this, it will take broad based support. It will take support from the players; the established professionals, the mid-level professionals and recreational players. It will take support from those that watch the game and it will take support from those who promote the game.

Who needs the International Poker Association? Does the professional or tournament player really need the IPA? There are a group of professionals that are not the stars of poker. These are the pros that grind out a living playing cash games and tournaments. They are the silent majority. They are the “working class” of professional poker. They struggle to deal with the same issues with which middle-America deals. How can I get healthcare benefits for my family? How can I get a credit card or a mortgage or a car loan without a steady paycheck or verifiable income? With the buying power of a large trade organization these things are easy to address. Credit unions, mortgage loans, health and dental benefits, life insurance, financial planning and travel discounts are all possible.

The International Poker Association will be a voice for all those with concerns, questions and suggestions about poker related issues. The IPA can offer a process by which ideas are heard and can become reality.

But who needs the International Poker Association? Why do the tournament sponsors really need an International Poker Association? Won’t the IPA simply take money from the casinos, the tournament sponsors and the product sponsors and put it in the hands of the players? Isn’t the IPA just a players’ union?

The IPA is thinking bigger than that. Although the mid-level professional, who never makes the big money but grinds out a decent living playing poker, may benefit from a players union, no one else needs or wants one. We can neither establish nor sustain a players’ union. The top professionals don’t need a union. The top pros already make plenty of money. The tournament sponsors don’t want a union. They will oppose the IPA’s very existence if they believe it is a union. The recreational players don’t want to spend the money to join a union because they end up paying dues with few applicable benefits. Without broad based support the organization cannot survive. This organization cannot be sustained by the relatively small number of mid-level professional players that a players’ union would represent.

But by focusing on the good of the game, the IPA is focusing on establishing a sustainable resource accessible to everyone involved in poker. The IPA won’t need to take money from the tournament sponsors or from the casinos. With the support of the IPA there will be plenty of money for everyone. A smaller piece of a much larger pie will benefit everyone associated with poker. Everyone benefits from an organization that focuses on promoting the game.

The IPA will look much more like a trade association than a labor union. In this way we can welcome the membership of players at all levels as well as the membership of fans and sponsors. We can have inclusive membership without the conflicts. The top pros will benefit from the success of this organization because the bigger the game gets, the bigger they can get. In 2003 Chris Moneymaker made 2.5 million winning the World Series Main Event. One year later Greg Raymer made twice that amount. The only difference was the popularity of the game. If significant corporate sponsor money was added to that pot, the prize would be even bigger. The top pros can certainly benefit from this organization.

The IPA can work collaboratively with tournament sponsors to ensure additional corporate sponsorships are maximized. NASCAR is a prime example. In car racing, the advertising dollars were once controlled by the beer companies and the auto parts manufacturers. Now advertisers range from laundry detergent to Viagra. The stars of car racing are accessible to the fans and it has become the biggest spectator sport in the country. Currently, some sponsors may shy away from poker advertising because of the stigma attached to gambling. Potential sponsors are not convinced that they can sell to conservative “middle America” by associating their products with poker or poker players. Television shows like ESPN’s “Tilt” do not help. Our organization’s emphasis on honesty and integrity can help poker to become even more “main stream”. The more “main stream” we become the more sponsors are willing to commit money to associate their products with our game. If the shroud of dishonesty is lifted from the game, more sponsors will be attracted. The more available sponsors there are, the more available money there will be.

Who needs the International Poker Association? Why do those involved in “the business” of poker really need an International Poker Association? Those who sell books on poker, those who manufacture and sell poker chips, tables and related products, those who sell instructional videos, etc. are all riding the wave of poker’s current popularity. These corporations and individuals have a vested interest in the game of poker continuing to grow in popularity. The International Poker Association will become the premier trade group representing the game. The IPA will be the group that the industry looks to for the development of standards, rules, and licensing opportunities.

Who needs the International Poker Association? Why do the fans really need an International Poker Association? Poker fans enjoy the game because they get to know the players. They understand the game and they enjoy following the game. In short the game is accessible to them. In poker, the game is not yet accessible to all who may become fans. Women, especially those new to the game, do not always feel welcome at the poker table particularly in local card clubs where the atmosphere is seldom what a middle class soccer mom would call comfortable. The IPA will focus on issues of accessibility including sponsoring local tournaments and opportunities to learn the game as well as standardizing the rules and tournament formats and creating a ranking system for professional players so that the fans can follow their favorite players, even those that might be less well known.

So who needs the International Poker Association? If the top professional players need the IPA and the professional and recreational tournament players need the IPA and the fans and sponsors need the IPA then clearly the game of poker needs the IPA. Yes, the International Poker Association is a fledgling group, with an ambitious mission. But ultimately the success of the organization rests in the answer to a simple question, “Who needs the International Poker Association?”

As a member of the IPA steering committee, I believe strongly that if we want to win big we need to think big. If we think small we will stay small. If we stay small we haven’t got a chance to succeed.

So who needs the International Poker Association? You do. I do, and anyone associated with the game does as well.

The IPA website is under construction. A current .pdf copy of the International Poker Association Newsletter is avaliable or sign up to be on the IPA mailing list.

Roxanne “Roxci” Rhodes
Poker Player
Steering Committee
International Poker Association