New PPA Member Gearl Seal Wins Seat at 2008 WSOP

Washington, D.C – Gearl Seal of Prineville, OR, today won a seat at the Main Event at the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP), co-sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group and OneBigPlanet Corp. which powers the PPA member benefits program. The contest was part of PPA’s campaign unveiling enhanced membership benefits and new website.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to say I am playing in the World Series of Poker. I still can’t believe I won,” said Seal. “I joined PPA because I like playing poker and I don’t think the government has a right to tell me I can’t play. We need representation so we have the freedom to play. Winning this contest is just icing on the cake.”

A drug and alcohol counselor, Seal started playing poker when he was in his teens and continues to hone his skills by playing poker online and in live tournaments. While his favorite game is Texas Hold’Em, Seal enjoys playing all varieties of poker as well as other card games. He is looking forward to playing in the Main Event, and said this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a dream come true.

Seal was one of the thousands of poker enthusiasts who joined PPA as a dues-paying member before June 10, 2008 and who made a purchase through OneBigPlanet, an online loyalty rewards program providing PPA members discounts of up to 70 percent on purchases from select online merchants. They were all entered into the contest to win a fully paid USD 10,000 buy-in for a seat at the Main Event at the World Series of Poker.

“I welcome Gearl as a member of the PPA, and look forward to cheering him on during the WSOP Main Event,” said former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the PPA.