Online Poker Removed from Massachusetts Bill
Online poker players in Massachusetts can breathe easy. They no longer have to worry about spending two years in prison and paying up $25,000 if caught.
Earlier a bill was introduced in the state House of Representatives seeking to allow land casinos in Massachusetts. That bill slipped in a clause outlawing online poker and imposing stiff punishment on the offenders. Fortunately wiser sense prevailed and an amendment was passed removing the clause altogether. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) was behind the move. It mobilized its cadres who hounded the legislators who had to yield to the pressure created. It was State Representative Dempsey who moved the amendment striking down the clause that criminalized online poker. John Pappas, executive director of the PPA, thanked the members from Massachusetts who had acted quickly at short notice and also Representative Dempsey for moving the amendment. He defined this whole process as “grassroots at its finest”.
Only the battle has been won – the war is far from over. After passing from the House the bill will go to the Massachusetts Senate for approval. The PPA has to ensure that the criminalization of online poker is not reintroduced there. There is reason to be watchful. Before the bill had been introduced in the House PPA had been assured that it would not contain anything adverse to online poker, but those assurances amounted to nothing. PPA is also working with State Representative Brian Wallace on bringing in legislation that would officially define poker as a game of skill in Massachusetts. Once this happens the war would be won.
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