My Mother used to tell me not to run beside busy roads, and never to talk with my mouth full. When I was a child I found these parental rules annoying. I thought they were in place to curb my freedom, and to spoil my enjoyment of my fish fingers with smiley potato faces and ketchup. Of course I know now that these rules were keeping me safe, and helping my Mum avoid mess and ugliness at meal times. Now I spend my time telling my seven year old daughter to 'eat slowly' and 'chew properly', living in fear of her broccoli showers.

As an adult I listen to the government for rules and instruction. I listen when they tell me not to drive too fast on the roads. I respect their benign interference at my meal times when they ensure the food is safe and fresh when it's bought. I understand our leaders rules, and I respect these. Or at least I usually do. I start to get confused when the people in charge tell me that online poker is a bad thing. I've thought and I've thought, but I can't understand their points. I enjoy online poker and I can't see that my hobby causes me harm. That's why I support the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

Team PokerStars, Greg Raymer, is a member of the PPA Board of Directors. He recently entreated all US poker players to support a bill to clarify the legality of online poker in the United States. This legislation hasn't got a snappy title, but 'H.R. 2046 - Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act' is the important legislation the PPA hopes will create a sensible regulatory and licensing framework for online poker in the US.

Greg insists that early support of Congressional Representatives is crucial to the success of the bill. If you live in the US you probably saw the email Greg signed, it asked every US PokerStars player to get involved in the PPA's campaign to create good, clear rules for the game we all love to play. It's surprisingly easy to contact your member of Congress to register your support for the campaign. You can find your Congress person's details from this webpage. Alternatively the PPA will help you get in touch if you enter your zip code on the PPA's page here.

I hope that you will take a minute or two to support the PPA. I hope you too want to live in a world with good sense rules, like, 'No elbows on the table!'

Actually, I never did understand the reason for that rule...