Online Casino Transfer: News - Massachusetts tries for Legalization

03/05/2010		Online Casino Style: News Massachusetts Tries for Legalization
Home History Games News Dictionary		Just as drama is erupting in the state of Pennsylvania regarding a batch of illegal gambling activities, online casinos are at the front end of discussions – again – in Massachusetts, as poker fans attempt to pass legalization measures once more. A major proposal failed just last year, defeated by the political arena, and so this year’s battle for the legalization of online poker is led by vigorous lobbying efforts, first and foremost fighting to have the game of poker classified officially as a game of skill, and not luck. One of the first battles will launch this week Tuesday, as a hearing held by the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee for Massachusetts will host a discussion on poker’s classification, hopefully the first step in deciding whether poker is a game of skill or luck. One of the group supporting the ‘skill’ classification is Global Strategic Thinking Society, based through Harvard University. According to Andrew Woods of GPSTS, the bill that will eventually make its back way into state legislature would legalize the game of poker as a game of skill, and create a loophole for both live tournaments and internet gambling for poker alone. According to current law, poker is considered a lottery, a severe misrepresentation, says Woods. “We’re interested in being involved because the bill follows our goals and interests,” said Woods. “The bill very precisely states that poker is a game of skill. Across the country, you’re seeing a lot of states coming up against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and instead looking at intrastate poker. They can’t get around the federal law, but they can allow it within their own state.” Bill 4069 would change all that. The proposal, sponsored by Massachusetts State Rep Brian Wallace, is very specific in naming poker as a game of skill, and would effectively lay the groundwork needed to legalize the card game.

03/05/2010

Online Casino Style: News
Massachusetts Tries for Legalization

Just as drama is erupting in the state of Pennsylvania regarding a batch of illegal gambling activities, online casinos are at the front end of discussions – again – in Massachusetts, as poker fans attempt to pass legalization measures once more. A major proposal failed just last year, defeated by the political arena, and so this year’s battle for the legalization of online poker is led by vigorous lobbying efforts, first and foremost fighting to have the game of poker classified officially as a game of skill, and not luck.

One of the first battles will launch this week Tuesday, as a hearing held by the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee for Massachusetts will host a discussion on poker’s classification, hopefully the first step in deciding whether poker is a game of skill or luck. One of the group supporting the ‘skill’ classification is Global Strategic Thinking Society, based through Harvard University. According to Andrew Woods of GPSTS, the bill that will eventually make its back way into state legislature would legalize the game of poker as a game of skill, and create a loophole for both live tournaments and internet gambling for poker alone. According to current law, poker is considered a lottery, a severe misrepresentation, says Woods.

“We’re interested in being involved because the bill follows our goals and interests,” said Woods. “The bill very precisely states that poker is a game of skill. Across the country, you’re seeing a lot of states coming up against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and instead looking at intrastate poker. They can’t get around the federal law, but they can allow it within their own state.”

Bill 4069 would change all that. The proposal, sponsored by Massachusetts State Rep Brian Wallace, is very specific in naming poker as a game of skill, and would effectively lay the groundwork needed to legalize the card game.