PPA Victory in Massachusetts
Thursday, April 15, 2010, The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved the PPA’s amendment to the state’s gaming legislation which removed language criminalizing playing online poker and other gaming over the Internet.
The PPA would like to thank the thousands of Bay Staters, as well as State Representative Brian Dempsey, who introduced the amendment striking the criminalization language, and State Representative Brian Wallace, who has offered H 4069, a bill to define poker as a game of skill, for their support and commitment to protecting poker player’s freedoms throughout the Commonwealth.
PPA has over 25,000 members in Massachusetts, and has been working closely with Massachusetts lawmakers since 2008 to preserve Massachusetts’ citizens’ rights to play poker, whether online or in person.
State Updates
South Carolina
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, H.4267, a bill that would legalize home poker games and also expand charity gaming (including charity poker tournaments), made it over a crucial first hurdle when it won bipartisan support by passing 4 to 1 out of the South Carolina House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee. However, one day later, this historic bill was tabled pending clarification of the charity component. The PPA expects the issue to be resolved and we are working to get a bill heard by the full South Carolina House in the very near future.
South Carolina law, dating back over 200 years, makes it a crime to play games that use cards or dice, like poker, bridge, Bunko, backgammon, or Monopoly, in the privacy of one’s own home.
Florida
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010, the PPA learned that HB 1441, Internet Poker Consumer Protection & Revenue Generation Act of 2010, a bill to create a state-authorized monopoly for operating an intra-state Internet poker network, died in Florida House Insurance Committee without a vote.
The PPA does not oppose State-based licensing and regulation of Internet poker. We strongly believe that a regulated marketplace will provide a better experience for the Internet player. We’re concerned, however, when states propose misguided legislation like HB1441 that cut Internet players off from the rest of the world, set up state supported monopolies and limit player’s choice in the marketplace.
The Florida Legislature adjourns on April 30, 2010, and the PPA will be updating members there on legislation that would impact our ability to play poker online.
Pennsylvania
In March 2010, the PPA was disappointed to learn that, in 2 to 1 divided decision, the Pennsylvania Superior Court overturned a 2008 country judge’s ruling that declared poker a game of skill. The PPA has been involved in the case and will update Pennsylvanian members should this case be challenged by the defendants. To read the PPA Petition for Allowance to Appeal please click here.
Tags: gaming legislation, poker law, poker players alliance, state poker law, the ppa
