Live in Mass? Hoping that you will get casinos soon? This might change

[*TT*]

Be careful what you wish for, this is a quote from Governor Patrick's casino proposal. Essentially he intends to make playing poker online a crime in exchange for permitting casinos in the state of Mass, the key word here is "transmits" from another person or gaming establishment within or outside the commonwealth.

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.


link. Also being discussed in NVG.

[Diana Ross Fan]

I don't see the connection here. Gov. Patrick is very pro-casino. He could get this bill passed with or without a casino deal.

[davidlong14]

MASS state lottery is incredibly lucrative to the State...

Guv Patrick reckons that since Indian casinos are a foregone conclusion (they are), the state will get out ahead of them & corner the live market with state-run casinos & shut-out on-line competition too while he's at it...

nothing like a government to show how a truly extortionate monoplistic organized crime syndicate should be run...

[Diana Ross Fan]

Oh TT, did you mean our hopes are what would be changing?

[*TT*]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh TT, did you mean our hopes are what would be changing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. Don't support this initiative as currently written! States have always had the power to deny internet poker, gambling is a state issue not a federal concern (unless the gambling crosses state lines then its a Fed issue). The current federal laws allow states to operate poker rooms, and its entirely possible that multiple states can enter into a compact that allows cross-state gambling online. If Mass accepts the Governors proposal you will be shut out from this inevitable result once the IUGEA is overturned.

[Diana Ross Fan]

I don't know the UIGEA is going to be overturned. But you are right, this is a bad bill. There is only a little doubt as to whether this bill applies to online poker players.

[dbldwnblue]

I know the state of Washington has casinos and its illegal to gamble online.