Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[Skallagrim]

It may or may not be correct or an oversight. Only time will tell. What Kurn says is generally true, but it also seems to me that this would get more publicity if that is in fact their purpose - why not say outright "we will license casinos and ban internet gambling?" It being buried in there is the part of this that does not fit. Unless they really are just trying to be sneaky.

Skallagrim

[catlover]

In Washington state, they snuck through a provision very similar to the one in the MA bill. People in 2+2 didn't even know about it until it was law.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

[ QUOTE ]
In Washington state, they snuck through a provision very similar to the one in the MA bill. People in 2+2 didn't even know about it until it was law.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wasn't the sponsor of that legislation connected to the B&M Indian casinos? Protectionist legislation.

[catlover]

Yes. And this time, the internet poker ban and the B&M proposal are in the very same bill. The connection couldn't be more clear.

[Skallagrim]

Agreed, which is why this requires action. But in WA the sponsor of the bill made it very clear prior to its passage that the bill was going to outlaw internet gaming (there were even hearings about it - I recall that specifically).

Its that part that is missing here, that may mean something or not. My HOPE that the governor isnt really intending to make ALL internet gaming illegal should not mean that this should be ignored, quite the contrary.

Skallagriim

[Uglyowl]

I called the governors office and that is the 2nd call they have taken today about the subject, please take the time especially if you are a Mass. resident.


Also spoke to the PR department at Worldwinner (they (mistakingly?) said they were skill games so no legislation would effect them). I forwarded the link and section of the legislation for them to review as they had no discussions to date.
-------------------------------------------------------

Good afternoon,

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. The following is the link
to the Governor's bill with an excerpt from Section 15(h)(2)(i)

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

(i) Placing, sending, transmitting, relaying wagers to another person prohibited
under certain circumstances; penalties. Any person who knowingly transmits or
receives a wager of any type by any telecommunication device, including
telephone, cellular phone, Internet, local area network, including wireless
local networks, or any other similar device or equipment or other medium of
communication, or knowingly installs or maintains said device or equipment for
the transmission or receipt of wagering information shall be punished by
imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 years, or a fine of
not more than $25,000, or both. This section shall apply to any person who, from
within this commonwealth, transmits a wager to, or receives a wager from,
another person or gaming establishment within or outside of this commonwealth and any person who, from outside this commonwealth,
transmits a wager to, or receives a wager from, another person or gaming
establishment within this
commonwealth. This section shall not apply to the use of a local area network
as a means to place authorized wagers in a licensed gaming establishment, or use
of said devices or equipment by the authority in it duties in regulating,
enforcing, or auditing a licensed gaming operator

Although this bill is only in the proposal stage, the potential exists for all
games for to be outlawed in the state of Massachusetts regardless if they are
skill or chance.

Thank you and have a great weekend. Sincerely,

Joseph XXXXX
(978) XXX-XXXX

[downrange]

Maybe I'm too cynical and/or others too naive but IMM anyone thinking there's some high and mighty principle involved here like say, personal freedom or that adults should be able to visit a nearby casino when they feel like it, forget it.

Patrick is a Liberal with a passion for spending other peoples' money. IMO he doesn't see this as a chance to let free people do what they want, he sees rivers of cash that didn't come from having to say "tax increase" - anything that gets between him and the free money better look out.

So IMO if one thinks this was an inadvertent error or that Dems "can't possibly be like them bible-thumping Republicans", that could very well be a fatal error for MA online poker players and is why for my money this proposal must be STOPPED. There's no fixing or adjusting to be done when the underlying principle is that free people doing what they want is a threat to the govt's access to dough.

[downrange]

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.

[schwza]

i live in mass. i'd be happy to call, but who should i call? also can you give you me a better talking point than "c'mon, i really like internet poker"?

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
i live in mass. i'd be happy to call, but who should i call? also can you give you me a better talking point than "c'mon, i really like internet poker"?

[/ QUOTE ]

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)

My talking points:

- Only a few states have laws explicitly outlawing internet poker, I would hope Mass. wouldn't join the others.

- I switched to Democratic Party and have been donating to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to various Democratic candidates in close elections including Steve Beshear.

- Told his office I voted for him, my first Democrat Party governor in 12 years due to the Republicans effort for a "nanny state" (got that word in there without sounding like a Yahoo) and specifically for attacking online poker.

- While the Governor proposes expanded gambling in the state, I didn't want to be a criminal for playing online poker from my living room after I put my son to bed.

- My friends and many co-workers enjoy online poker

- Bring up Newton based- WorldWinner Inc. may be in danger due to wording of legislation