About

About Railbird Creations

Railbird Creations was founded on one defining quality: tenacity.

What began as a shared love for poker—and a determination to advocate for fair treatment under the law—quickly grew beyond a small group of friends. That determination sparked a new and growing grassroots movement dedicated to fighting for fair and modern betting laws.

We advocate for healthy, accessible, and legal gaming activities across poker, sports betting, horse racing, slot machines, and table games—for both recreational and professional players, as well as the workers who make these industries possible.

Our Team

Sara O’Connor

CEO, Co-Editor-In-Chief & Founder

Sara O’Connor began her career practicing law where she developed a ruthless drive towards excellence and institutional decision-making. She later built and operated a successful independent art business for over a decade, giving her firsthand experience in entrepreneurship, self-employment, and the economic realities faced by independent professionals. In the gaming industry, Sara is the author of two books and an up-and-coming journalist, focusing on professional and recreational poker players, dealers, personal stories, and industry issues.

Sara is committed to ethical journalism, institutional accountability, and building durable public-interest infrastructure for the gaming industry.

James Cloutier

President & Co-Founder

James Cloutier has over two decades of gaming experience as a player, dealer, mentor, and advocate, with a particular expertise in poker. With a deep understanding of the gaming ecosystem and its regulatory environment, he contributes to players’ and organizations’ long-term vision of informed advocacy and responsible public discourse.

As President and Co-Founder, James supports Railbird Creations’ efforts to protect lawful gaming participants by helping shape strategy around policy engagement, ethical practices, and organizational growth. James is committed to shining lights on people whose actions positively grow the game for others to enjoy in a responsible manner.

Our Mission

We seek to share helpful, educational, and engaging information about gaming laws and the people who shape the gaming industry.

We will advocate for fair policies that allow people to participate in these activities responsibly, safely, and transparently.

Too often, the voices of everyday bettors and industry employees are ignored or sidelined. Railbird Creations exists to ensure that when critical decisions about gaming laws and policies are made, the gaming public is informed, represented, and involved.

Together, we can—and will—make a meaningful difference for the millions of Americans who engage in gaming activities.

Why Railbird Creations Exists — And Why Now

Gaming policy in the United States is changing rapidly.

In recent years, technical amendments to tax and regulatory laws—often introduced quietly or late in the legislative process—have created real financial consequences for players, workers, and families who had no seat at the decision-making table.

Millions of Americans participate in legal gaming each year. Yet the people most affected by policy shifts are rarely quoted, rarely consulted, and often left to discover the consequences only after the fact.

Railbird Creations was formed to close that gap.

We exist to ensure that:

Policy is explained before it causes harm
Lawmakers and the public understand downstream consequences
The voices of industry participants are informed, documented, and heard

This is not outrage journalism.

It is preventative, public-interest work.

What We Do

Public-Interest Journalism

We publish original reporting, interviews, and analysis focused on gaming policy, taxation, labor issues, and industry regulation while also highlighting members of the gaming community for their contributions. Our editorial standards prioritize accuracy, sourcing, fairness, and right of reply—especially on high-impact or time-sensitive issues.

Advocacy & Legislative Engagement

Railbird Creations engages directly with the public, policymakers, staffers, and industry stakeholders to provide context, data, and lived experience around proposed legislation. We support bipartisan efforts that promote transparency, economic realism, and fairness for lawful gaming participants.

Industry & Community Voices

We elevate voices across the gaming ecosystem—from professional players and recreational gamblers to employees and freelancers, executives, and advocates and lobbyists—recognizing that effective policy requires understanding the full system, not just the headline.

Our Standards & Values

Railbird Creations operates with formal editorial standards and ethical guidelines modeled on best practices in public-interest journalism.

Our work is guided by:

Accuracy over speed
Fairness over framing
Transparency over access
Credibility over clicks

We believe trust is our most valuable asset—and we protect it accordingly.

Editorial Oversight & Contributing Writers

Railbird Creations works with editors and contributors across multiple regions to ensure thoughtful review, diverse perspective, and careful handling of sensitive or high-impact coverage.

If you have a story to share or series to pitch, email submissions@railbirdcreations.org and the following subject line: “Article Pitch re: [Subject]”

Why Railbird Creations?

In poker, a railbird is someone who watches the game closely and passionately, studying the action, understanding the dynamics, and seeing what others miss.

That philosophy defines our work.

We watch carefully.

We ask hard questions.

And when the stakes demand it, we speak.

Interviews & Appearances

Railbird Creations participates in interviews discussing gaming policies and laws and the broader implications they have for players and the entire gaming community.

Video Interview — Discussion of U.S. gambling taxation and player impact

Click Here

Live Interview / Social Media Appearance — Conversation on gambling taxation, public response, and advocacy

Click Here

Support Our Work

Railbird Creations is supported by members and donors who believe informed policy leads to better outcomes.

Your support helps fund:

Independent, public-interest reporting
Legislative education, advocacy, and boots-on-the-ground advocacy
Editorial review and ethical oversight

If you believe lawful participation deserves fair treatment—and that policy should be debated in the open—we invite you to support our work.

Because when policy moves quietly, consequences do not.

Become a Member

Donate Now