Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[catlover]

I called the Governor's office. I also wrote a reporter at the Boston Globe, pointing out the legal challenge in WA.

Unfortunately, I can't see any sign that anything has come from either of these efforts. At least not yet.

[Uglyowl]

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Left message, will follow up tomorrow. Keep my money, I don't care what party our friends or foes are from. If they are for us (Republican or Democrat) I will praise/donate to them, if they are against us I will "flame" them, donate to their opponent.

To be honest though I would like to neuter the Republican Party as it stands now that is friendly with Focus on the Family.

By the way:

Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Office of the Lt. Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.725.4005
888.870.7770 (in state)

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Thanks for being on top of this Owl. Let us know what you hear from the pols.

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I will be able to call during lunch today, I will let you know if they say anything interesting (I doubt they will). I will also call my local state rep.

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
I called the Governor's office. I also wrote a reporter at the Boston Globe, pointing out the legal challenge in WA.

Unfortunately, I can't see any sign that anything has come from either of these efforts. At least not yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Write to Jeff Jacoby at the Globe,( mailto:jacoby@globe.com ) he had a pro-gaming article a few months back:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editori...e_american_way/

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Great article. Not all social conservatives are anti-gambling.

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]
Left message, will follow up tomorrow. Keep my money, I don't care what party our friends or foes are from. If they are for us (Republican or Democrat) I will praise/donate to them, if they are against us I will "flame" them, donate to their opponent.

To be honest though I would like to neuter the Republican Party as it stands now that is friendly with Focus on the Family.

By the way:

Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Office of the Lt. Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.725.4005
888.870.7770 (in state)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for being on top of this Owl. Let us know what you hear from the pols.

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I will be able to call during lunch today, I will let you know if they say anything interesting (I doubt they will). I will also call my local state rep.

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I called and they had no idea what I was talking about ("The bill only has to do with land based casinos"). I had to explain it in detail (kind of like how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich style) my question about online poker and the section which has us questioning their intent.

They will get back to me, I left my phone # and will see what happens. If I don't hear back in a week I will call them back.

Feel free to call the in a few days to keep it on the "front burner".

[Skallagrim]

I kinda figured this is the response you would get Uglyowl.

One of two things happened here: some anti-online folks slipped this little provision in without really telling anyone (not likely IMHO, I would think the Governor would have more control over his staff), OR, some staffer in the Governor's office who wrote the bill is/was completely ignorant on the subject of internet gaming and didnt realize that the language could be read to include people playing ON the internet from their homes.

When I first read it, it scared me (but then anyone concerned for the legality of internet poker has a right to be a little paranoid these days) but when I reread it, I believed it was intended, in a poorly worded manner, to prohibit the newly licensed casinos (only) from accepting bets over the phone or internet.

But you should still make sure its clarified before a final version is passed. Good luck.

Skallagrim

[oldbookguy]

Yes, there is similar wording contained in the recent WV Tables Games bill but was cleared up and now reads the you must be in the gaming area to place a wager at the casino.

As to the Ma. bill and clearing that language up, you guys need to enlist Liberty Media(World Winner owner), the skill games company located in Newton. This company (WW) is part of a very large company traded on the market and owned by Fun Technologies who is owned by Liberty Media as follows:

FUN Technologies Inc. is one of the world's leading online casual games providers. FUN's strategy is to provide its cutting-edge games systems to top distribution partners around the world. FUN is 53% owned by Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ:LINTA - News; NASDAQ:LCAPA - News), and FUN's common shares are listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN".

Info link:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/070306/2007...3001.html?.v=1

obg

[Uglyowl]

I got a call back from the Governors office and the girl stated "internet poker and all internet gambling would be made illegal under the bill." Boy am I livid since I voted for Deval. Hope this is an oversight or she asked the wrong person.

[Uglyowl]

FYI- The relevant part if you contact anyone is Section 15(h)(2)(i) ; I am going to try to pry further tomorrow, and also contact Worldwinner. I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing, so let's see if this smoke is about to turn into fire?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

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I got a call back from the Governors office and the girl stated "internet poker and all internet gambling would be made illegal under the bill." Boy am I livid since I voted for Deval. Hope this is an oversight or she asked the wrong person.



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Why would you think its an oversight? To the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the purpose of the casinos is to provide the Commonwealth with a revenue stream, so making online gambling illegal accomplishes two things. 1) it protects their revenue stream by ostensibly blocking competition, and 2) it enhances the revenue stream by ostensibly telling people who want to gamble that the only place they'll be allowed to do it is in the State-sponsored casinos.

100% consistent from the perspective of government.

Go back and read Jacoby's op-ed piece. The only proper stance of government on gambling is silence and non-intervention, allowing free enterprise to work.