Massachusetts shoots down online gambling bill.

Massachusetts Gambling Bill No Longer Criminalizes
Online Poker




By Tom Jenkins - Apr 14th, 2010








A 172-page bill introduced by Massachusetts House Speaker
Robert DeLeo authorizing construction of two casinos
no longer criminalizes internet gambling and online poker. The offensive
language was eliminated following a consolidated
amendment passed on Tuesday.
House Bill 4591, which has become a point of
contentious debate for Massachusetts residents, now includes an
amendment that reads in part, “And move to further amend the bill by
striking out, in lines 2695 to 2704, inclusive, the following words: (v)
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… shall be punished.” The penalty for
playing online poker of all stakes in the Commonwealth was set to be up
to two years behind bars and a $25,000 fine.
More than 60 proposed amendments are cited in the consolidated
document. Part of the reason for the success of the passage of the
amendment, proposed by State Representative Brian Dempsey,
was the force of the Poker
Players Alliance (PPA). The grassroots lobbying organization sent
an e-mail blast to its 25,000-plus members in Massachusetts, who quickly
began contacting their local lawmakers. PPA Kentucky State Director Rich
“TheEngineer” Muny posted on PocketFives.com last week, “We’ve
been asked to ‘call off the dogs.’ It seems our blast was eliciting a
lot of calls and emails.”
The Massachusetts State Senate must also approve the bill. Muny
commented on PocketFives.com what he foresees the future of the
consolidated amendment to be: “The Senate is next. However, as it’s in
the technical corrections package, we can all expect easy passage.” The Boston Globe newspaper added that
proponents of the bill likely had enough votes to override a potential
veto by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who opposes the
legislation’s expansion of slot machines on the grounds that they do not
create enough additional jobs.
On the outcry of the poker community in Massachusetts, PPA Executive
Director John Pappas commented in a press release
distributed by the organization on Wednesday, “Of course, the PPA is
very pleased that the House-passed gaming bill does not criminalize
online poker, but I am even more proud of our members in Massachusetts
who really stepped up to the plate on this issue and made their voices
heard among the House lawmakers. This was grassroots at its finest.” The
PPA added that DeLeo’s proposal could be approved as early as today.
The Globe noted that the Massachusetts House also approved an
amendment requiring casinos to purchase slot machines manufactured in
the United States. Turned down were amendments mandating that casinos
have clocks on their walls, limiting the amount of money dispensed at
ATMs, and only permitting casinos in towns with rail service. The
measure was not discussed in a public hearing.
Also on the PPA’s plate in Massachusetts is House Bill 4069,
proposed by State Representative Brian Wallace. The
bill recognizes poker as a skill game, which could effectively prevent
the Great American Pastime from being lumped in with casino games and
games of chance in the future.
The legislation criminalizing online poker and internet gambling
originally appeared two years ago, but never came through to fruition.
However, the newest attempt to legalize casinos seems to be on much
stronger footing. That didn’t stop opponents to the bill like Ruth
Balser, who told the Globe, “We are literally discussing who
shall live and who shall die. Who will commit suicide? Who becomes
homeless? Whose families will become the victims of domestic abuse?
That’s what we’re deciding.”
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest poker legislation
headlines.


well my friends the poker gods have spoken in Massachusetts, the bill got shot down making it illegal for internet gambling, and to boot we also got our casino bill passed. first time i'm glad to say i'm a masshole.

i 2nd that thought i was gonna have to move lol

Let's hope this opens up the door for more states to come to their senses and get something done about online poker! Hooray for MASS! LOL! Glad you can stay home now T! LOL!

lol

"masshole"

lol

That's a new to me.