Online Poker Ban Reappears in Massachusetts Slots Bill- Source ID'd

Now that US Massachusetts Governor Patrick Deval's Casino bill was voted down, State Rep. David Flynn is promoting revenue relief through his bill to allow slot machines at racetracks, but beware- his bill contains the same verbiage criminalizing online poker and gambling on the Internet that was in the now-defunct Casino bill.

In Section 11 of Flynn's bill (on pages 34 & 35, click here to view bill) it says:

"Any person or entity who knowingly transmits or receives wagers of any type by any telecommunication device, including telephone, cellular phone, Internet, or local area network, which shall mean to include wireless local networks, or any other similar device or equipment, or knowingly installs or maintain said device or equipment for the transmission or receipt of wagering information shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 years or pay a fine of not more than $25,000 or by both; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the use of a local area network as a means to place wagers on a licensed gaming establishment, or use of said devices or equipment by the commission in its duties in regulating, enforcing and auditing a licensed gaming operator, or use of said devices or equipment for the purpose of a licensed gaming operator advertising itself."

GOVERNOR DEVAL SAYS SOURCE OF VERBIAGE IS STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL

On the PPA forum this week, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Director for the State of Massachusetts shared that the source of the verbiage banning online poker and gambling in the Casino bill is MA Attorney General Martha Coakley, saying: "Governor Patrick confirmed this on the day of the Joint Committee's hearing on March 18th, to Professor Nesson [who had been repeatedly asking for its source], which was recorded. So, at this point, we feel our best course of action is to persuade AG Coakley that this provision is not in the Commonwealth best interests. In fact, the provision is not supported by many legislators at all."

ABOUT FLYNN'S SLOTS BILL & CHANCES OF PASSING

Flynn's bill would allow 2,500 slots at each of the state's four racetracks:

Flynn said the slots would bring in $400 million to the state in the first year; half of that would be earned through licensing fees.

Last December, Flynn hosted a high-profile gambling hearing in the Legislature's Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, which he chairs. Several casino moguls and representatives from the state's racetracks attended the hearing.

Despite support Flynn has garnered, the lobbyist hired by the PPA expressed that "this bill, even if passed by the house, will be vetoed by Governor Patrick", so he is not worried about it at all.

In the same forum post, a member expressed their hope that when legislatures look at the shortfall in the state's revenues and they see the potential windfall from slots licenses, that they don't makes a short-term panic decision and pass the slots bill containing the online poker ban.

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