Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

http://www.mass.gov/legis/HD4626.pdf

cliff notes:

-governor Patrick proposes a bill to have 3 casinos in the state. (good)

-his bill also includes a proposition that would make it a crime for you to play poker on the Internet (See: Section 15(h)(2)(i)(bad)

-Under this provision, violators will be subject to a maximum term of 2 years in the house of correction, a fine of $25,000, or both. (bad)

wtf? Could this possibly be more hypocritical? If you live in MA, contact the governor's office today like I did and let him know what a douche he is.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

glad i dont live there

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.mass.gov/legis/HD4626.pdf

cliff notes:

-governor Patrick proposes a bill to have 3 casinos in the state. (good)

-his bill also includes a proposition that would make it a crime for you to play poker on the Internet (See: Section 15(h)(2)(i)(bad)

-Under this provision, violators will be subject to a maximum term of 2 years in the house of correction, a fine of $25,000, or both. (bad)

wtf? Could this possibly be more hypocritical? If you live in MA, contact the governor's office today like I did and let him know what a douche he is.

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http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...0&fpart=all

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

Didn't see that, KEW. Thanks. Lock the thread I guess.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

maybe you havent heard but online poker is illegal throughout the US...so these state laws which will do basically nothing just as the national law really hasent stopped serious player really will ot change anything...i am from washington which made online gambling illegal before the US did and i just kept on playing and had no issue what so ever...these legislations banning online gambling get nearly no funding so they cannot actively go out and enforce this law...

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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maybe you havent heard but online poker is illegal throughout the US

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ZOMG it's you again

This is COMPLETELY WRONG! Washington state is the ONLY state that it's illegal to play poker online. In Idaho, it's 100% legal. In Oregon, 100% legal. In Texas, 100% legal. etc. etc. There is NO LAW at the Federal level banning or making poker illegal to play online.

This once again shows how retarded you are as a poster. Please just ban yourself and go away. Between your complete lack of actual knowledge, and your "lobbying for AP" no one wants you here.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
maybe you havent heard but online poker is illegal throughout the US...so these state laws which will do basically nothing just as the national law really hasent stopped serious player really will ot change anything...i am from washington which made online gambling illegal before the US did and i just kept on playing and had no issue what so ever...these legislations banning online gambling get nearly no funding so they cannot actively go out and enforce this law...

[/ QUOTE ]

King of the Trolls...

In there anything involving poker that you actually know the facts or the story????

OP In your opinion what Law or Laws made it illegal to play poker online?????

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

ok so the actual playing is not illegal on the federal level its just that funding online gaming accounts from the US is illegal.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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In there anything involving poker that you actually know the facts or the story????

[/ QUOTE ]

I bet he at least knows that a straight beats a flush.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

BarryG - Online Poker should be legal in 6 months

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

PPA sent out an email in last 24 hours with a web form for sending emails to correct local Mass reps to oppose online poker not be made a felony in Mass.

Even if you are not a PPA member (or don't support them), if you live in Mass. please spend the 60 seconds it takes to submit opposition using this link:
http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...61&type=ML

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

and since all of you seem to be jumping on me lets take care of it the real way...get some money on AP and i'll gladly sit HU with you for as long as you want at any limit up to 5-10 NL or PLO

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
ok so the actual playing is not illegal on the federal level its just that funding online gaming accounts from the US is illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is not even 100% true..It is not illegal for me to send sites funds BUT it's illegal for sited to receive the funds..Being that the sites are "outside" US jurisdiction so what can be done to them???? If the UIGEA Regs are ever approved they will be faced by a number of Constitutional challenges...

This points out how effective the DOJ is with there scare tactics...

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
ok so the actual playing is not illegal on the federal level its just that funding online gaming accounts from the US is illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is not even 100% true..It is not illegal for me to send sites funds BUT it's illegal for sited to receive the funds..Being that the sites are "outside" US jurisdiction so what can be done to them???? If the UIGEA Regs are ever approved they will be faced by a number of Constitutional challenges...

This points out how effective the DOJ is with there scare tactics...

[/ QUOTE ]


Not only is his assertion not "100% true" it really isn't ANY true.
I can fund my account all day long and I am not breaking the law. Some of the media have misunderstood this and said otherwise and obviously there are people like this poster who believe this to be true. But I'm pretty certain that the federal laws as they currently stand specifically state that any player who is funding any account or even playing poker on that account are not breaking the law. There are a few states where even these activities are illegal now I believe.
But people REALLY need to just stop making stuff up that they thought they heard on CNN about how it is illegal to fund an account or gamble on the internet.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
ok so the actual playing is not illegal on the federal level its just that funding online gaming accounts from the US is illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is not even 100% true..It is not illegal for me to send sites funds BUT it's illegal for sited to receive the funds..Being that the sites are "outside" US jurisdiction so what can be done to them???? If the UIGEA Regs are ever approved they will be faced by a number of Constitutional challenges...

This points out how effective the DOJ is with there scare tactics...

[/ QUOTE ]


Not only is his assertion not "100% true" it really isn't ANY true.
I can fund my account all day long and I am not breaking the law. Some of the media have misunderstood this and said otherwise and obviously there are people like this poster who believe this to be true. But I'm pretty certain that the federal laws as they currently stand specifically state that any player who is funding any account or even playing poker on that account are not breaking the law. There are a few states where even these activities are illegal now I believe.
But people REALLY need to just stop making stuff up that they thought they heard on CNN about how it is illegal to fund an account or gamble on the internet.

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The reason I used not 100% true is because of the "proposed" Regs currently in the comment phase...Under these "proposed" Regs financial Institions such as bank can face fines and penalities if they send payments to "Illegal Gaming Sites"...OTOH the Banks face no such risk from "overblocking"...

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
maybe you havent heard but online poker is illegal throughout the US...so these state laws which will do basically nothing just as the national law really hasent stopped serious player really will ot change anything...i am from washington which made online gambling illegal before the US did and i just kept on playing and had no issue what so ever...these legislations banning online gambling get nearly no funding so they cannot actively go out and enforce this law...

[/ QUOTE ]

King of the Trolls...

In there anything involving poker that you actually know the facts or the story????

OP In your opinion what Law or Laws made it illegal to play poker online?????

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO no law or laws made it illegal to play poker online. There is a bill in the works trying to make it illegal in Massachusetts.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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wtf? Could this possibly be more hypocritical?

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Not at all. B&M casinos are under the false pretense that online-gambling is a threat to them. Very similar to old-school marketing plans that come from a "create a monopoly" mindset.

The Commonwealth serves to benefit from B&M casinos directly so they listen to the B&Ms when setting up this deal. Look at the online-ban in the state of Washington, look who is behind the bill:

WA INDIAN GAMING ASSN OLYMPIA WA
NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE OLYMPIA WA
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE AUBURN WA
CHIPS CASINO LLC BREMERTON WA
CONF TRIBES OF COLVILLE RESERVATION NESPELEM WA
GOLDIE'S SHORELINE CASINO SHORELINE WA

What is sad is that online gambling will increase their market.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

There are a lot more people across the country trying to stop all internet gambling including online poker than there are trying to get online poker fully legalized and blessed.

You guys who purport to be making some money from poker, or who just like to play, had better get busy and start helping fight for your rights. Should UIGEA II pass which does have teeth and DOES stop you from playing, YOU, not me, not the PPA, not David Sklansky, are the ones who will suffer.

And frankly, if all of you do nothing more than you are doing now to help your cause, you will deserve it.

Get yourselves over to the legislative forum, get educated, get busy.

Then again, I suppose you can all go back to working for the man.

Tuff

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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and since all of you seem to be jumping on me lets take care of it the real way...get some money on AP and i'll gladly sit HU with you for as long as you want at any limit up to 5-10 NL or PLO

[/ QUOTE ]

AP???

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
and since all of you seem to be jumping on me lets take care of it the real way...get some money on AP and i'll gladly sit HU with you for as long as you want at any limit up to 5-10 NL or PLO

[/ QUOTE ]

Mark?

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
PPA sent out an email in last 24 hours with a web form for sending emails to correct local Mass reps to oppose online poker not be made a felony in Mass.

Even if you are not a PPA member (or don't support them), if you live in Mass. please spend the 60 seconds it takes to submit opposition using this link:
http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...61&type=ML

[/ QUOTE ]

Done.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

ok so since i have far less understanding of the anti online gambling legislation that passed then i thought...why exactly did so many sites stop allowing US customers...Party Titan Pacific Paradise...

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
and since all of you seem to be jumping on me lets take care of it the real way...get some money on AP and i'll gladly sit HU with you for as long as you want at any limit up to 5-10 NL or PLO

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait a second...

How would that in anyway prove that you understand the state of US Online Gambling/Poker Legislature?

The simple fact you think that might help in any way shows how completely clueless you are.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

i nvr said it would prove any knowledge but it would prove my worth as a person

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
ok so since i have far less understanding of the anti online gambling legislation that passed then i thought...why exactly did so many sites stop allowing US customers...Party Titan Pacific Paradise...

[/ QUOTE ]

Because they care so much about our welfare that they want to save us from ourselves.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
PPA sent out an email in last 24 hours with a web form for sending emails to correct local Mass reps to oppose online poker not be made a felony in Mass.

Even if you are not a PPA member (or don't support them), if you live in Mass. please spend the 60 seconds it takes to submit opposition using this link:
http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...61&type=ML

[/ QUOTE ]

Done.

[/ QUOTE ]

Falcon rocks (despite the mix of confusion and fear that avatar of yours creates)

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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i nvr said it would prove any knowledge but it would prove my worth as a person

[/ QUOTE ]
Umm...wrong again. WTF does beating someone at poker have to do with your "worth as a person"?

As to your other question, the UIEGA definitely precipitated all of those sites leaving, but they didn't HAVE to. Otherwise, why would Stars, FT, AP, UB, etc still be around? It was mostly the publicly traded companies that left. I'll let others who know more elaborate as to exactly why they did, but many felt it was an overreaction.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

NewGuy,

Just treat pink unicorns with the same respect you would any other wild animal and you won't get gored to death. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Fellow Massholes,

The PPA link sends an email to your state reps. It takes all of 10 seconds; there is no reason not to do it. Gogogogogo imo.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

why didn't the PPA send me this e-mail too?
I know they have my address. Guess they assume I don't care about Massachusettes or something. Really that's only partially true.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]

PPA sent out an email in last 24 hours with a web form for sending emails to correct local Mass reps to oppose online poker not be made a felony in Mass.

Even if you are not a PPA member (or don't support them), if you live in Mass. please spend the 60 seconds it takes to submit opposition using this link:
http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...61&type=ML

[/ QUOTE ]

Sent this afternoon and already received my form letter email back from John Fresolo. I'm sure I spent more time reading his than he mine but...

The reality here is that even if this passes it's not going to mean chit. This state has way more important things to waste money on than internet poker players.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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This state has way more important things to waste money on than internet poker players.

[/ QUOTE ]

If we ever see the day where regulated poker hits the USA and Mass. has this silly on it's books we will be [censored]. Get on the horn and let them know what you think.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

got this back from a senator not 4 hours after I sent him the pre-prepared PPA email:

Hi:

Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. I had no idea this was
a part of the casino gambling legislation. I will keep an eye out on
this piece for you. Furthermore, the casino legislation is likely to
take a very long time to go through the legislative process. The
legislation has not had a public hearing yet and it is likely going to
be fully analyzed over a long period of time. It is not going to move
quickly.

I am glad that you brought this issue to my attention. If you should
have any further comments on this issue or the casino gambling proposal,
please contact my legislative aide, Wendy Wiiks, at 978-534-6946.

Very truly yours,

Bob Antonioni

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
Fellow Massholes,

The PPA link sends an email to your state reps. It takes all of 10 seconds; there is no reason not to do it. Gogogogogo imo.

[/ QUOTE ]

I found the PPA form letter kind of lame. The good thing is that it provides the framework for it to be rewritten in stronger language, which I did. I'm going for hard copies; hopefully the printed letters really do have more impact than emails do. On the other hand, calling should be quite productive, but I have a friend who phoned in and got told "Well, it's already illegal at the federal level."

Go get them somehow, but be prepared for BS.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
why didn't the PPA send me this e-mail too?
I know they have my address. Guess they assume I don't care about Massachusettes or something. Really that's only partially true.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe the letter was sent only to PPAers who live in Mass, since it included a webform to send an email/letter to local Mass state reps. There's been some discussion in the Legislation thread about what PPA members outside Mass can or should do.

Legislation forum thread on MA poker ban

The PPA webform was unable to automatically send the letter to Governor when I used it, so here's the contact info for the Governor's office:
1) The best phone # to use is for the Governor's Constituents Services Office at 617.725.4005 (this office tracks all constituents positions who call in)
2) Below is a link to a webform for sending an email to Governor's office (all submissions are read and tracked) http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3util...ov3_contact_us
Massachusetts State House

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
On the other hand, calling should be quite productive, but I have a friend who phoned in and got told "Well, it's already illegal at the federal level."

Go get them somehow, but be prepared for BS.

[/ QUOTE ]

FWIW, I definitely got the same BS when I spoke to whoever picked up in the main office of the Governor, as well as the people I reached in the Legislative office. I asked them specifically if they would pass along my feedback / opposition to the online poker ban, and it was clear they would not in any formal way.

They did however eventually direct me to the Gov Constituents Services Office. This office is responsible for hearing residents opinions, tracking how people weigh in, and providing tis data as feedback to the Governor's staff.

Bottom line: IMO this office is the best conduit to the Governor for expressing your opposition to making online poker a felony (617-725-4005), while the PPA webform is the easiest / most convenient way to get your opinion sent properly to your local Mass reps.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

Funny that after UIGEA, the "evil Republicans" get blasted for vicious intrusions into our private business. Now the 99.44% Democrat government of the People's Republic of Massachusetts is considering this, nobody says boo.

Ironic.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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Washington state is the ONLY state that it's illegal to play poker online. In Oregon, 100% legal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure what you mean by '100% legal', but in Oregon it's deemed "unlawful" and a misdemeanor, since playing online raked poker is not "specifically authorized by law".

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

[ QUOTE ]
Funny that after UIGEA, the "evil Republicans" get blasted for vicious intrusions into our private business. Now the 99.44% Democrat government of the People's Republic of Massachusetts is considering this, nobody says boo.

Ironic.

[/ QUOTE ]

This probably belongs in the Politics (or Legislation) forum, but I sure as hell wouldn't say no one is saying boo. If you read the Legislative forum thread about this topic, then you won't think residents of Mass and others aren't angry at the Democratic Governor over this.

The irony is not lost on Mass residents that:
1) Barney Frank of Mass. is the most prominent member of the House in terms of fighting / overturning the UIGEA.
2) Anti-gambling conservatives in the state may end up being allies with the PPA in fighting to block this casino / online gambling bill from passing as is.

Bottom line, this isn't a Democrat vs Republican / right vs left issue, even though if you do your homework you'll see that a higher % of Republicans (vs. Dems) support an online gambling ban. Republicans wrote the UIGEA & tacked it on, but Democrats failed to stop it, etc. There are plenty of ill-informed and hypocritical politicians on both sides of the aisle, and we need to write or call them, and let them know how we feel about losing our right to play poker online.

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

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Washington state is the ONLY state that it's illegal to play poker online. In Oregon, 100% legal.

[/ QUOTE ]

This issue is not isolated to just 1 or 2 states, it's a disease that could spread to your state next if you live in the US.

According to http://www.compatiblepoker.com/usa.php, it's a felony in Louisiana too.

VI. 11 States Strongly Affected by Poker / Casino Ban
Many sites have issued an 11 state ban not allowing players only from the following states.

Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana - felony to play online poker for real money in the US
Michigan
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
South Dakota
Washington - felony to play online poker for real money in the US
Wisconsin

Re: Online poker could be officially illegal in MA soon
 

Does it say the timing on this? Would it become illegal the same time the casinos are finished (something like 2013 IIRC) or right away?