Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[NewGuy]

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There is virtually no chance of the MA legislature any time in the near future (or probably in my lifetime) passing a law that makes online sports betting legal. Recognizing that fact, all we are doing is saying to the MA legislature, well poker is different, you can have legal online poker and keep online sports betting (and the other "casino" games) illegal if thats what you like.


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QFT

FWIW, I'd be happy if sports betting was made legal in MA, both online and in the new casinos if they end up being built. I also happen to agree with the argument that sports betting is skill-based and should be differentiated from other forms of gambling. But I would give up the small chance of sports-betting actually being made legal in a heartbeat if I thought it jeopardized legal online poker in Mass one iota.

In other words, while I think the PPA and 99% of all poker players in Mass won't go out of their way to criminalize sports betting, if Mass legislators offered a deal where ALL forms of wagering except specifically poker were made illegal, we'd happily take that deal. Furthermore, if proposing a poker-only carveout (vs including any other forms of online wagering) offers a higher % chance of keeping online poker legal, that's the path we should pursue.

I don't see that as the PPA or poker players throwing anyone under the bus, just looking out for their own interests above all else. I also think introducing sport-betting into the conversation with Mass legislators would dilute the focus of our arguments, muddy the waters and confuse/complicate the issues at hand (actually, similar to way it has done in this thread.)

I for one think the PPA's single-issue focus on poker is 100% dead-on correct and in our best interest.