Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[Uglyowl]

Here is an interesting quote from the House chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and an opponent of Patrick's plan to license three casinos to Massachusetts:


"What I learned is that this is more dangerous than I had known before," Balser said after the hearing. ". . . It's not a simple game of poker or betting on the outcome of a football game. We're talking about a machine that was designed to illicit an addictive response."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/article...s_social_costs/

This may be an important distinction as someone who should be well versed in gambling addiction when speaking differentiates slots and poker based on differing addiction rates.

Also here is an interesting article about Mass. politics and how some view Deval Patrick negatively as a "new-comer":

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/blogs/...f-beacon-hill/

[MassPoker]

Greetings Again From MA PPA Rep!

I want to address some specific issues first, and then I will continue on to some points that may be able to help MA residents become effectively involved in this current struggle.

First, Rich M (aka The Engineer) contacted me about a week ago about the proposed internet poker ban and gave me some pointers on how we can approach this issue here in MA. For that, I'd like to personally thank Rich for taking the time to contact me and for showing such interest in our problem. At this point, we need all the help we can get.

Many of you are wondering precisely what is being done about this on the PPA's end.

Our primary focus and/or ultimate goals here are this:

a)Alert and educate all MA PPA members about the bill and
its potential ramifications on them;

b)Provide the local news media with details about the
the proposed bill and attempt to get some positive news
coverage for our plight;

c)To ultimately have the section of the bill that seeks
to ban and criminalize online gaming (poker inclusive)
stricken from the bill.

Here is how we are achieving these goals and where PPA is on this topic at present:

After being contacted by Rich, I called John Pappas (Executive Director/PPA)and we went to work on drafting the opposition template that will be sent from MA poker players to Governor Patrick, your respective Represntatives, as well as your respective Senators. This will be done via an email that will be sent to all MA PPA members as well as through the PPA website (for non-PPA members from MA). Additionally, we drafted a letter that is designed to alert all MA PPA members about this topic.

Also, I am drafting a press release which will alert all of the MA news media agencies about our plight and try to get some coverage for our cause.

John Pappas and I are working together on finding and contacting a registered lobbyist from MA to work on our behalf. This lobbyist will contact key legislators and attempt to swing some legislative votes in our direction.

By the middle of next week, all Massachusetts PPA members will have received the "PPA Alert" on this subject. At that time you will be directed to an area on the PPA website where you will be able to directly send letters to the Governor and your legislators. Additionally, you will be provided with some talking points on this topic so that you will have ammunition when you contact your local legislators or the Governor's office by telephone or email.

Also, we are always open to new ideas and/or suggestions that you feel may help us in this struggle. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or comments.
Please contact me directly at: ma@pokerplayersalliance.org.

For those of you who have written an email to me and I have not yet responded, please understand that I am doing my best to answer everyone's email in a timely manner and in the order which I have received them. I assure you that if you have written me an email, I will respond ASAP. I'm sure you will all understand that I have been inundated with emails, and phone calls and am doing my absolute best considering I am only one person. Thanks for your understanding.

Lastly, I will be sending out regular updates to MA PPA members when new information becomes available.

All In,

Randy C~
MA PPA Representative

[NewGuy]

Great stuff, Randy. I think this the type of response & plan a lot of us in Mass. were hoping for.

I doubt poker players in Mass. would have wished for this situation to occur. However, it does present us with a unique opportunity to potentially set a precedent with an online poker carve-out.

[Jurollo]

GOGOGOGO! Deval is on WTKK right now.

#969 on verizon wireless
96.9FM for those in MA. Flood the email, askthegoverner@wtkk.com

[Uglyowl]

ZZZZZ. Who cares about biotech. Waste of 1/2 hour so far.

[Jurollo]

[ QUOTE ]
ZZZZZ. Who cares about biotech. Waste of 1/2 hour so far.

[/ QUOTE ]
We won't hear anything about this me dont thinks.

[Uglyowl]

I was very disappointed in the show today, as they completely ignored my e-mailed concerns. He spent a good 5 minutes on the merits of school children getting their reading materials online vs. bringing a school book home. Oh well, I think as Massachusetts residents we have to do a better job. I am rather disheartened at not hearing a single thing at this point after e-mailing and calling the Governor, e-mailing “Ask the Governor”, writing and calling my local reps and writing to the Chairperson of the committee where the casino bill sits.

[NewGuy]

I emailed "ask the Governor" too, obv no result. Well it can't hurt if send the same email every time he appears on the show, I'll program my calendar to pop up a reminder. Is it every week at the same time?

[Uglyowl]

He appears monthly, I believe the first Thursday

I am going to give WTKK a ring tomorrow and see if I can get some "inside information" on the program. Was it a popular subject? Was the Governor aware of these questions? If so, was it explicitly stated we will not discuss this on air?

[NewGuy]

Good idea, Owl. Just saw my email bounced. Was askthegoverner@wtkk.com the wrong email or did I just hit a busy server?


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