Australian online poker players take the stand at vital hearing

The founder of The Australian Online Poker Alliance (AOPA) has told poker players that a recent inquiry to ascertain the future of online poker in Australia was a success.

Game of Thrones character Jorah Mormont has six months before greyscale hides his flesh forever, and turns his mind to mush. Beyond that point, he becomes a Stone Man, and the same fate awaits online poker in Australia.

In March, the Australian government decided it was time to crackdown on the proliferation of in-play online gambling. The result was The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill, but the giant net the bill makers cast over the online gambling industry inadvertently dragged online poker into the draft law along with the other starfish.

Poker lover Joseph Del Luca formed The Australian Online Poker Alliance (AOPA) to try and make the politicians see the illogical nature of packing online poker into the same box as online sports betting. Del Luca found support throughout the online poker industry, and within the Senate, as Liberal Democrat, David Leyonhjelm, took the corner of Del Luca, in their fight to allow Australians to make their own mind up about the perils of playing online poker.