Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[KEW]

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I had some good thoughts to post on this thread, but I am suspending posting unless and until the issue with TE is resolved staisfactorily. Others may want to consider doing the same.

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Good point, I will give myself a self inflicted suspension while TE is out. Hopefully see everyone soon and check out the PPA site, Pocketfives, etc. in the meantime in more detail.

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IMO this is a very bad idea and goes against everything TE stands for..TE above anything else want open discuss and free flowing opinion to farther our cause..A self imposed "ban" does nothing positive in at a time where MA needs to be united..

Support TE by doing what he would want you to do and he would do himself if not for 2+2's stance on the PPA...Free TE with your voices in the papers and on the forum..Do not let the ban stop what he is proudest of..United do not divide..

[Uglyowl]

Kew, you are probably right although I am angry and grumpy at the moment, but can't let down and snooze at a time when getting our voices heard is of utmost importance.

Randy, you are somewhat of a celebrity haha, the AP has made a story of this:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massach...t_bets_illegal/

If we are lucky maybe it will make the Globe as an AP story, tomorrow and all the other local papers too (Worcester Telegram, Boston Herald, Lowell Sun, Fitchburg Sentinel, etc.)

[DeadMoneyDad]

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I had some good thoughts to post on this thread, but I am suspending posting unless and until the issue with TE is resolved staisfactorily. Others may want to consider doing the same.

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That thread has been locked while "the gentlemen", all of them, consider their positions further. There is no need to hijack this thread nor take precipitious action IMO for at least a few days of cooling off.

This thread is about the poker ban in MA and the fantastic progress that has been made in a very short time.

There is no need to check raise this issue any further from the "railbirds" the people involved in the hand are still playing it out........


D$D

[Mike McDonkey]

Hello all,

I've taken some of my poker time to fire off some emails to my state rep and senator. There have been a couple of people on the thread asking "what should we do?" and while I applaud the work of many here, please allow my to give my two cents.

The single most important thing to be done in order to get attention is unrelenting contact. So, if you haven't, call, email, write, fax - DO SOMETHING. Numbers work. Politicians do not like to make waves. None of them want their name next to - Banned Online Poker. Rather, they want to do whatever it takes to keep their soft leather seat and prosperous non-job. That's of course specifically why this ban was buried into the bill rather than proposed on its own.

Always be polite. Realize that the person answering the phone is often an unpaid college kid or low paid staffer. They likely listen to people yelling at them all day. So a pleasant tone and respectful language go a long way. Comments are important, but volume is larger. We want these people to know that we're out there and we're watching. In small state district elections, it doesn't take much to make these politicians worry about votes against them. It's due to the tremendous job of everyone here that the issue has been forced to the front. Now we need to sustain the pressure. For what it's worth, here is my email to State Senator Marian Walsh:

Dear State Senator Walsh,

I am writing with great concern over the story in this morning's Boston Globe regarding the governor's casino bill. It has come to my attention that the bill contains language specifically banning online gaming - including poker - and imposes extremely severe penalties on any and all citizens who engage in such activity. It troubles me greatly that the governor has chosen to use the power of his office and the legislature to limit my freedom as a law abiding citizen and taxpayer and dictate where and how I should choose to spend my discretionary income.

I enjoy playing poker online for small stakes and find it obscene that the State would ban my leisure activity in an effort to force me to move my play into a state run casino. That simply will not happen. I will never set foot into a Massachusetts casino should this ban become law. And I should tell you, there are thousands of Massachusetts online poker players who will do the same. If you observe the effect that online poker has had at Foxwoods casino in Connecticutt, you will see that rather than hurt the casino's business, it has caused a massive expansion of their poker room. Foxwoods is now host to some of the premier poker tournaments in the world. Rather than hurt business, online poker has fuelled the growth.

More importantly, Senator, the proposed ban stinks of government intrusion on the private lives of citizens. Massachusetts has been at the forefront on many issues involving choice and liberty. This legislation flies in the face of those ideals. I work hard, pay my taxes and have never broken the law. The idea that playing in a $5 poker tournament online could result in severe fines and even imprisonment is completely appalling to me. When the time comes, I hope you take this email into consideration and vote against ANY legislation banning online gaming.

Thank you,

[Uglyowl]

Mike McDonkey, great letter and observations.

[Uglyowl]

Randy and all. Not only did your story get in the Boston Globe, but has been picked up by the AP and starting to get more play in Boston and even Indiana of all places. Hope we see a bunch more tomorrow.

I am appalled that the Governor is staying hush on why he wants to do this, we voted for you sir (I sound like Keith Olberman) and you owe us an explanation:

"Patrick officials declined Friday to explain the governor's rationale for the proposed ban on online gambling. They also would not respond to Frank's comments."


Worcester Telegram (Worcester, MA)

http://www.telegram.com/article/20071110/APN/711100742

Channel 7 news (Boston)

http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO66571/

Channel 25 Fox news (Boston)

http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/N...mp;pageId=3.2.1

Fort-Wayne Journal/Gazette (Indiana)
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/p...template=apart

[sobefuddled]

Whoa! Randy, way to go! WhoooHooo! Now if we can just keep up the momentum. How about everyone writing letters to the editors of their local weekly newspapers? If we get them in on Monday enmasse we'll get the local voters to take notice. The vast majority of local newspapers are owned by 2 companies here in Massachusetts. Most of those papers come out on Wednesday and Thursday. What do you say?
If you love to write and are good at it write a commentary and submit it. If you are direct and to the point a short letter to the editor will work. Local papers are always looking for local twists on big issues and here's your chance to give them that.

[MassPoker]

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"Patrick officials declined Friday to explain the governor's rationale for the proposed ban on online gambling. They also would not respond to Frank's comments."

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I called Governor Patrick's office on Friday and asked them to confirm an "unconfirmed report" that I was made aware of from a political insider. I can't really go into details about the specifics, but if this report turns out to be true, we have Governor Patrick trumped! Part of the unconfirmed report to me that I can speak about is a rumor that a certain Casino owner had his lawyers assist in the drafting of the bill, which would certainly explain the section pertaining to criminalizing online gaming, right?
Anyway, the point is that when I spoke to Patrick's office, the assistant was speechless for a moment and asked ME where I learned of that unconfirmed report. Ultimately, I am hoping these deatils come out on their own because this will really make the Governor look bad and will kill this bill very quickly.

Really glad the AP picked up this story. I can't think of better exposure for our cause. This may cause just enough pressure for the Governor to re-examine this bill, or at very least, have those legislators that may have been waffling on the fence to choose our side.

I will chime in as well on the "TE issue" only for the sake of re-focusing this thread:

I have nothing but the highest regard for TE, but as D$D pointed out, this thread is really about the ban and criminalization of online poker in MA. Any attempt to "make a stand" for the sake of TE would be completely counter-productive to what we are trying to achieve here, and I know TE would NOT want that. He is a consumate professional and I dare say that if he is anything like me, we put the needs of the PPA before issues of pride. TE and I are passionately committed to the rights of poker players and I know neither of us would want to see a "stand" made that might ultimately cause harm to our cause. Such a stand on this thread could prove detramental to what we are trying to accomplish. That said, I pray that all of you will take this lead and rediredt our focus on the task at hand. I thank you all in advance for your continued support and anticipated cooperation.

All In,

Randy C~
MA PPA Rep

[flight2q]

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I spoke to the reporter for 20 minutes and the best that he could come up with was that snippet that contains no officiall PPA position whatsoever.

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No worries about what people think. The reporter included write-in campaign letter from PPA talking about the hypocrisy of the draft legislation. You got some relevant material in, and may have influenced or reinforced the reporter's decisions about other things in the piece.

Matt Viser put out a coherent piece with a bunch of important views in it. This is a great result when you can't expect reporters to be experts on everything. Even if Viser was already familiar with the issues, this is a quality piece of work.

[sobefuddled]

CBS Radio & TV began with this yesterday also-This is Boston's station.
http://wbz.com/Patrick-not--in-favor...mbling/1197691