Poker players score victories in Massachusetts and Colorado

February 8, 9:36 AMOnline Poker ExaminerSteven Ruddock

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House bill HR 3954, which expanded gambling in the state of Massachusetts but also included a provision making Internet poker illegal with up to a two years in a house of corrections and up to a $25,000 fine has been amended. Both Representatives (Brian Wallace [D-4 Suffolk] and Martin Walsh's [D-13 Suffolk]) have committed to removing the criminal Internet poker provision from the HR 3954.

This is another step in the right direction for poker, which is often lumped into the gambling category with games of chance -lottery, craps, slots- where it doesn't belong.

This follows on the heels of US Representative Barney Frank telling the Financial Times he would reintroduce a bill in the next few weeks to establish a licensing and regulatory framework for online gambling operators. 

This would roll back legislation against online gambling passed under the Bush administration, Frank stated the climate is ripe for Congress to unlock restraints that are "impinging" on the freedom of Americans.

Frank said he also expected anti-gambling regulations, rushed through in the dying weeks of the Bush administration, to be included among the measures Congress will look to rescind.

Also making headlines recently, Poker News has reported: A Colorado criminal trial has resulted in a not guilty verdict for the defendant. The case of Colorado v. Kevin Raley went to court after authorities raided a game at Rafferty's Bar in Greeley, Colorado, where about 30 patrons were playing.

The case received significant assistance from Poker Players Alliance (PPA) officials who submitted evidence that poker was a game of skill, and therefore should not be treated as "gambling" under Colorado state law. The Colorado law specifically exempts "bona fide contests of skill."

Related Articles:Fight the online poker ban, Are casinos coming to Massachusetts?