The Massachusetts gambling bill that would have allowed the prosecution of online poker players has been voted back to a study committee, killing it for at least this year. The Massachusetts Casino Expansion bill would have allowed the state to license three more casinos, but also contained a provision that would punish online poker players and gamblers with fines up to $25,000 and jail time of up to two years.
The vote came after the state’s Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies voted against recommending its passage. Those who spoke at Tuesday’s public hearing on the bill include Harvard Law professor and Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS) founder Charles Nesson and Randy Castonguay , the Poker Player Alliance’s (PPA) state representative for Massachusetts.
The PPA and GPSTS teamed up and organized a rally in Boston Commons the morning before the hearing. About 40 people attended. Click here to read about it.
The Massachusetts House of representatives voted 106-48 to send the bill back for more study. The vote came Friday, after a six-hour debate.
POSTED ON: Mar 23, 2008
Agreed, this was a great victory, however, the fight is far from over and now is not the time to rest on laurels. There is a SECOND alternative bill in Mass., the Slots bill that will allow slots at tracks. THIS BILL contains the same language criminalizing online poker. Do NOT stop the fight in Mass. One more victory is needed there! obg
POSTED ON: Mar 23, 2008
i agree ,evryone if you havent already joined the ppa join well worth protecting are right to play poker.i mean what has are country come to. you cant play poker ,but they will let you bet on horses online that takes no skill and has a def risk of ruin .poker is game of skill and lets face it is american as apple pie
POSTED ON: Mar 23, 2008
Online players need to realize the threat that the current leaders of this country pose to their civil liberties. If our bankrolls are to small to send a contribution to the PPA, we can at least find out who the candidates are that pose a threat and vote them out of office.