The self-financed Poker Players Alliance staged their own political fight at Capitol Hill to take a stance against the proposed ban on online gambling.

The ban could make 70 million American poker players out of their friday night with their pals - and a good percentage of those could become criminals overnight if they play online for money.

The Poker Players Alliance brought in all the big guns - a mix of pro poker players lobbying the politicians and cosying up to the press - and of course, play a few hands of Hold'em.

The alliance claims not to have ties to any online gambling site - but have been financed by some wealthy individuals. They are looking for online gambling to be regulated and taxed and estimate some fairly big numbers - 70 million play poker, 23 million play online and 3 million play for money online. That could translate into a fairly substantial business, offering employment and of course, tax revenues.

As usual, those seeking the ban argue about underage gambling, addiction, money laundering etc - all issues that would be dealt with proper regulation.

"I'd hate for 70 million poker players to wake up one day and learn that their game has been made illegal,'' said pro Howard Lederer, who with his sister annie Duke forms a sister-brother pro duo in a sport that has become a TV staple the last few years.

Bolcerek, a Cow Hollow resident who says he plays in a weekly game with friends, portrayed poker as a game of skill that's as American as apple pie and motherhood.

"Poker is an American tradition. It has its roots in New Orleans, just like jazz. Many presidents played, including Gen. Grant, Harry Truman and Richard Nixon. So did Chief Justice William Rehnquist,'' said Bolcerek, a longtime high-tech executive who took up his post as paid president of the 20,000-member alliance just a few months ago.

Article: Poker players fight online gambling ban