Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[Uglyowl]

The Governor is on WTKK 96.9FM (weekly I think) to answer questions from listeners:

askthegovernor@969fmtalk.com

As an online poker player, could you please ask the Governor
why at the same time he is trying to expand land base casinos in the Commonwealth, there is wording (Section 15(h)(2)(i) ) in his proposal that would make it a crime to play poker on my computer in my living room? There are many U.S. Congressman from Mass. who have called these attempts at the national level "stupid" and are cosponsoring bills to explicitly legalize skill games like poker (as opposed to it's current gray area). This bill would make Mass. the 3rd to criminalize playing online poker (Washington and Louisiana).

I voted for the Governor Patrick due to my displeasure with the Republican party knowing what is best for us and would be highly disappointed if he went the route that had mostly been a Republican "Nanny State" effort.

Thank you for your time,

-Joe
(978) XXX-XXXX

[Wooden Ta Sheng]

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I just saw your post Uglyowl so I guess I didn't need to make mine - yours seems to confirm my expectation.

I'm unfortunately living in this stupid state and can't move atm so will be contacting church groups, anti-gambling Repubs and Dems plus whatever other of our "poker enemies" I can think of to see how to kill this proposal.

Hopefully the ppa will have some suggestions because besides that I don't have the slightest idea how to take steam out of this idiot's proposal.

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The only way to take steam out of the proposal is to convince the legislators that internet gambling poses no threat to the revenue stream from B&M casinos.

Good luck on that one.

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Another thing that people in State Government don't realize is that just because you outlaw all forms of internet gambling (including poker) doesn't mean that you strengthen your revenue stream from the B&M casinos by eliminating the competition. I was born in North Carolina, was raised in Florida, and now currently reside back in North Carolina, both of which has B&M casinos. I've never had any desire to go play live poker at any casino in either state, nor have I had the desire to place bets and wagers on other games within those same casinos.

Another thing that alot of these B&M casinos forget is, if it wasn't for online poker, they would have never cashed in as much as they have off of the poker boom they way they have. Harrah's, who owns and runs The Rio in LV, has benefitted royally over the last couple of years with the WSOP off of satellites that have been run off of the websites for the Main Event. Do they really think poker was so popular prior to 2002 to where they would have gotten as many participants as 2004-2007 and the consumer traffic those years brought into the casino and Las Vegas? You got successful players online who have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars winning sats to the Main Event, then taking parts of their online bankrolls and spending money to play in other events (that they normally wouldn't have). Even when you look at the WPT events and others throughout the US and Europe. They have all have benefitted from the online poker revolution of the early and mid '00s.

Outlawing and making online poker illegal might curb competition but it also doesn't guarantee you new customers either.

[JOHANSON YO]

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I content myself in knowing that I'll be the hell out of this state by the time this is enacted.

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[Uglyowl]

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I content myself in knowing that I'll be the hell out of this state by the time this is enacted.

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I just put a ton of work into my house and a psychic told my wife we would be moving in the next 5 years. I thought she was full of crap, but maybe she knows something [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Right now I live 5 minutes from the New Hampshire border. Alot would have to go wrong for me to move, but I would under the perfect storm of circumstances.

[MassPoker]

Greetings;

My name is Randy C and I am the MA Rep for the PPA.

As you can well imagine, the news of this proposed bill really took us by surprise. I've read through all of the threads pertaining to this issue and I agree with most of you that this is NOT just a MA problem. It is, by all respects a problem that will affect all internet gamers.

Those of us who live in MA need to take this matter ever so seriously! This bill is quickly gaining support and now is not the time for party politics and the assignment of blame. The fact is, we are facing the MOST DAMAGING internet gaming legislation to date, surpassing that of the UIGEA. If this catches on...every State will start proposing similar legislation and I dare say we will be fighting an uphill battle.

I've spoken to MA State Senator Stephen Brewer(D-Barre). He warned me that this legislation stands a VERY good chance of passing and that if anything were to be done, it HAS to be done now. He suggests conacting any and all MA disabled persons who are homebound and unable to go to a conventional casino. He claimes that this will give us the "sympathetic angle" and will be another hurdle that the bill must stave off before going to the House of Reps. It's a longshot, but it's a start! So, if you know of any MA disabled person/people who play internet poker, please have them contact me ASAP at MassPoker@yahoo.com. Please have them put "MA Poker Ban" in the subject line.

I am currently working on the official PPA Press Release and Position Release and will send it to every single MA news source. I am making myself available for interviews in order to offer our position on the bill.

I would also like to hold a rally on Beacon Hill in early December for any and all residents of MA (and even non-residents [Skall...lol] that wish to attend.

Also, I will be working with John Pappas, Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance in an effort to offer MA PPA residents a standard opposition letter which will be automatically fowarded to Governor Patrick's office, as well as to each of the MA residents respective Representatives and Senators.

No matter what, it is important for MA residents to know that we here at the PPA are doing everything in our power to ensure that this bill stalls.

I am making myself available to all MA PPA members who wish to contact me directly. Please email me at MassPoker@yahoo.com and I will provide you with my home and cell phone numbers. I will do my best to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

We have a very long, tough road ahead of us and I hope you will join with us to stop this bill in it's tracks NOW!

All In,

Randy C~
MA PPA Representative

[catlover]

I called the Governor's office too; said I thought the provision was unfair. How does one follow up?

[Uglyowl]

Keep me updated on the gathering in Boston, I would be happy to attend (with some notice). Early December in a literal sense would be great so we are less at risk of being at the mercy of the weather.

Anyhow, I wrote to the Governors office:

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3util...ov3_contact_us

Good afternoon,

When reading about your proposed casino bill (which standing alone I would fully support), I was shocked to find that Section 15(h)(2)(i) of the bill would make Massachusetts residents criminals for playing online poker from their own home.

The only possible explanations that make sense to me are the wording does not fit your intentions or fear that online poker would hinder casino revenue. This is far from the truth, in fact casino poker (based on World Series of Poker entrants) grew almost 1,400% in 4 years. If you go to Foxwoods, there is sometimes a two hour wait filled with players waiting to play poker. This phenomenon can be largely attributed to the explosion of online poker.

From a personal standpoint, I began playing online poker when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer. After treatments I was too tired and my immune system too weak to be around crowds, which left me a lot of time to be alone and much time to just think, which would often be of scary thoughts. Online poker provided an outlet where I could play when and where I wanted, if I had energy for ½ hour and laying down it kept my mind occupied during a scary time in my life. Online poker players did not see me as an individual stricken with cancer and I made a lot of great friends while my friends from my childhood, and co-workers “vanished” as they were most likely too scared and didn’t know what to say.

Today, three years cancer free and a law abiding citizen, I enjoy playing poker after a long day of work and after my toddler son goes to bed at 9:00.

I will leave you with this final thought. This year I voted for you and other Democrats (for the first time in my life) largely in part to Republican effort to ban online gambling (Bill Frist, Jon Kyl, Jim Leach, etc.). So far I have donated to Democratic candidates in close Congressional races in 2006, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic candidates who are pro-gaming (Barney Frank, Shelley Berkely), and to Steve Beshear in Kentucky Governor’s race in a week. This bill goes against what I thought you and the Democratic Party stood for.

Thank you for your time,

-Joseph xxxxx
(978) xxx-xxxx

[catlover]

I made some phone calls, and have found out that the bill is currently in the following committee:

House 4307

Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

617 722 2370 telephone number of the committee.

Chairs:

State Sen. Jack Hart 617 722 1150
State Rep. Daniel Bosley 617 722 2370

[Uglyowl]

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I made some phone calls, and have found out that the bill is currently in the following committee:

House 4307

Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

617 722 2370 telephone number of the committee.

Chairs:

State Sen. Jack Hart 617 722 1150
State Rep. Daniel Bosley 617 722 2370

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BTW you can find your reps here:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm

Thanks for the information, more work to do I guess:

Sent letters to my State Congressmen:

To:Stephen.Brewer@state.ma.us;Rep.RobertRice@Hou.S tate.MA.US

Good afternoon,

I am a resident of Ashburnham and am very concerned about Gov. Patrick's casino proposal as it would make otherwise law-abiding citizens criminals for playing online poker and other skill games for money like chess, backgammon, etc.. Could you please consider the following I wrote to the Governor and push to have Section 15(h)(2)(i) eliminated or modified.

It is very inconsistent that while the Governor expands land-based casinos in Massachusetts he criminalizes other forms.

Thank you very much for your time!

-Joseph XXXXX
(978) XXX-XXXX

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Letter to Gov. Deval Patrick:

Good afternoon,

When reading about your proposed casino bill (which standing alone I would fully support), I was shocked to find that Section 15(h)(2)(i)...................

[catlover]

I talked to the Legislative section of the Governor's office. The people there gave me the usual BS about how the state is protecting us by controlling where we can gamble.