Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[Grisgra]

[ QUOTE ]
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

[/ QUOTE ]

Just called both offices, explained to them my concerns . . .

[whangarei]

[ QUOTE ]
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

[/ QUOTE ]

Any value to non-Mass. residents calling these people?

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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

[/ QUOTE ]

Just called both offices, explained to them my concerns . . .

[/ QUOTE ]

To: Rep.DanielBosley@Hou.State.MA.US; John.Hart@state.ma.us

Good afternoon,

It is my understaning that Governor Patrick's casino bill is in the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies chaired by you. I am very concerned about the road the Massachusetts may be heading by becoming the 3rd state to outlaw online poker while having the harshest law in the nation against playing online poker.

The public view has been that the laws "protecting ourselves from ourselves" was a Republican push, but apparently we may be mistaken.

Please view the letter below I sent to Mr. Patrick about my concerns and my personal story involving online poker. To save time there are further issues with the World Trade Organazation and there are bills currently in the United States House that are pushing to explicitally give online poker a skill games exemption that is being pushed by Massachusetts Democratic Congressman.

Thank you,

Joseph xxxxx
Address
Ashburnham, MA 01430
(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) .......


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[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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

[/ QUOTE ]

Any value to non-Mass. residents calling these people?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a great question that I have put some thought into.

The only productive thing I could see is saying you are working hard for a Democratic controlled government nationally due to their general "pro-gaming" stance (see Engineer's ranking, current pro-gaming bills sponsored mostly by Democrats) and the current casino legislation completely shakes things up.

A government doesn't get more Democratic than Massachusetts and maybe the fear of losing some national "brownie points" may have some leverage. The only reason I can see an outsider having any effect is playing up the "Party card; Dems vs. Reps).

It may be a stretch, what does everyone think, good question Whangarei.

Further addition: Heck another alternative, leave a message after hours on the voice mail when there is no one there and don't leave your address or phone #.

[Uglyowl]

Started a thread on boston.com (Boston Globe website)

http://boards.boston.com/n/pfx/forum...&tid=20965

While Governor Deval Patrick proposes to expand gambling in this state by licensing 3 new casinos, there is a part of the bill that makes it a crime in the state to play poker online for money, only the 3rd state in the country to do so. Arguably the Mass. proposal is the harshest in the country with punishment by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both: Section 15(h)(2)(i).

The hyprocracy of expanding gambling even further in the state while making it a criminal offense to play a $5 poker tournament is offensive. I am a law-abiding citizens who enjoys a game of cards after a long day of work and after playing with my son until he is ready for bed.

[NewGuy]

Good idea, Owl.

I replied (below), it can't hurt to maybe attract some more eyeballs to the discussion there. If anyone does reply, maybe posting how to contact state reps or governor's office might be good info to put there? (I forgot to do that).



My reply there:

FWIW, I'm not a strong supporter of expanding gambling in this state. I'm not yet convinced it would be in the best long-term interest of Massachusetts or its residents to have additional casinos located closer than Foxwoods, but I wouldn't say I've had a strong stance on it either way until recently.

Having said that, I do agree that making it a felony to play poker online is utter hypocrisy. I thought Democrats were supposed to be AGAINST Big Brother monitoring what is OK for you to do in the privacy of your own home? I guess it's OK for me to play Keno in a bar or buy scratch tickets at convenience stores right around the corner (i.e., as long as the Mass. Lottery gets its cut), but the government needs to protect me from myself if I want to play poker? Please.

I might have supported this casino bill in the interest of raising revenue for the state. Now that I've seen that there's an attempt to sneak in an online gambling ban that would to make people who gamble or play poker on their computers criminals, I sure won't now, unless that clause is removed.

[Uglyowl]

Thanks for replying, I added the Governor's contact info in my reply:

Unfortunately we get changes of heart after the fact when the damage is already done. We hear far too often that "we didn't mean that to happen" (Peter King chairman of committee that supported allowed UIGEA attached to his bil, "The ban on Internet gambling is misdirected - and it's also probably unenforceable" http://www.nypost.com/seven/08142007/pos..._peter_king.htm

or

that the government needs to protect us from ourselves: Washington State: "Gambling Commission Director Rick Day and Prentice, who sponsored the legislation, said the law is necessary, partly to protect the gamblers themselves." "Day said the intent of the new law is not to give agents greater incentive to track online gamblers and throw them in prison. Jailing small-time online gamblers is "not the focus of our work," he said." http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...ambling27.html

The days of government knowing what is best for us and not allowing us to make our own decision needs to stop. If they are truly concerned about the welfare of it's citizens they would put safeguards in place instead of a prohibition. If government were to ban everything that had some dangerous element we would stay in our house all day and sit on the floor and do nothing.

Finally what really angers me about this bill is the propsed online poker ban is "snuck" inside a bill to expand gambling!

I really hope that the Governor has a change of heart and maybe didn't realize how far reaching his bill is (although that is probably wishful thinking):

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)

[sergsz]

What's the potenetial timing here? When is this legislation expected to be voted on / take effect?

[flight2q]

[ QUOTE ]
Any value to non-Mass. residents calling these people?

[/ QUOTE ]
They're trying to make you a criminal too, for playing online poker and having a person from MA sit down at your table.

[Uglyowl]

I followed up with the Governor's office and asked if there were updates on the section criminalizing online poker and a guy named "Ethan" said to me:

"It is the beginning of a long process and many revisions will be made; we can't be giving you updates on a daily basis "

I was pretty offended and explained I hadn't called in a few weeks and it was very important to me to decide who to financially support in upcoming elections. Ethan said he confused me with someone else and they have been getting phone a significant number of calls on this issue.