New MA casino bill

[jabby]

Originally Posted by PokerNations

Anyone know if there's a possibility of a casino near the springfield MA area? That would be closer for me than Foxwoods and Mohegan as a CT resident

It looks like they are shooting for 3 casinos and the site furthest west would be around Palmer.

[PokerNations]

Originally Posted by jabby

It looks like they are shooting for 3 casinos and the site furthest west would be around Palmer.

Thanks, that'll be a bit less of a drive for me than Foxwoods, but not as close as I'd hoped

[TheEngineer]

Former MA state senator's anti-casino bill op-ed: http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x60...-gambling-bill

There are so many cynical, hilarious provisions in the new gambling legislation that it is difficult to select which one hits the jackpot for pure legislative chicanery. Massachusetts residents get fleeced at every turn, even if they never set foot in a casino.

At the top of the list is the bailout for the dying horse-racing industry. More casino dough is pegged for horse-racing subsidies than for mitigating the enormous costs local governments will incur in hosting these facilities.....

[TheEngineer]

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

Former MA state senator's anti-casino bill op-ed: http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x60...-gambling-bill

FoF cheering this on: http://www.citizenlink.com/2011/09/1...-more-gambling:

Former State Senator Sue Tucker wrote an op-ed that was posted by Salem News online: Taxpayers may get fleeced by casino gambling bill. Tucker raises very legitimate concerns regarding the gambling expansion bill in Massachusetts (H. 3697) from the perspective of a resident and former legislator.

Among her list of concerns …

[LetsGambool]

This is 100% done, for is not relevant here fortunately

[LT22]

Casino Bill passes House, Online Poker Survives

http://calvinayre.com/2011/09/15/cas...ign=calvinayre

[TheEngineer]

The bill was amended to an online poker study bill.

Rep. Winslow offered a revised version of the proposal, which required that the commission craft its recommendations “in consultation with the state lottery commission.”

Under Winslow’s plan, the gaming commission would be required to issue recommendations and legislation by July 31, 2012. In addition, the committee would be required to consult with two appointees named by the speaker, two appointees named by the Senate president and one appointee named by the minority leader in each branch.

[sluggger5x]

Sounds like it has good chances to get through the senate and the governor wow.

[LT22]

So the amendment says a study has to be completed? What happens if the legislators fail to pass legislation?

[TheEngineer]

I hear Steve Grossman drove this change. If you wish to reach out to him, his Twitter is at http://twitter.com/#!/MASSTreasury.

[LetsGambool]

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

I hear Steve Grossman drove this change. If you wish to reach out to him, his Twitter is at http://twitter.com/#!/MASSTreasury.

Shocking. As expected, Steve Grossman will look to control all i-poker in MA.

Some chance we actually have a chance for intrastate i-poker in MA now. It will be probably be terrible and unbeatable, but Steve Grossman will push for that an an opt-out of a Federal bill. I expect the model legislation to include an auto opt out and possibly the felony provision for playing on unlicensed sites.

If anyone lives in Dan Winslows district and wants to reach out and explain why 10% uncapped rake is bad it would be helpful.

[sba9630]

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

Former MA state senator's anti-casino bill op-ed: http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x60...-gambling-bill

"What if the good people of Boston decide a slots parlor is a bad bet, especially one that has T access for tens of thousands of college students?"

The former Senator obviously has never actually visited a slots parlor and observed the demographic(s).

[PokerNations]

Originally Posted by sba9630

"What if the good people of Boston decide a slots parlor is a bad bet, especially one that has T access for tens of thousands of college students?"

But go ahead 18 year olds and spend your weekly minimum wage paychecks on our scratch tickets, keno and lottery tickets.

Such f'ing hypocrisy, I hate politicians.

[CashRules36]

Originally Posted by LetsGambool

Shocking. As expected, Steve Grossman will look to control all i-poker in MA.

If anyone lives in Dan Winslows district and wants to reach out and explain why 10% uncapped rake is bad it would be helpful.

I do live in Winslow's district and sent him an email Saturday morning. See below. I did not get a response back. It does seem as though the amendment no longer includes the 10% rake. It just says the gambling commission has to draft model legislation for internet poker.

Dear Rep. Winslow,

I recently read about your proposal to add internet poker to the MA casino bill. I am a supporter of casinos in Massachusetts, and also believe a person should have the freedom to play online poker in their own home. So I can appreciate your attempt bring internet poker to the state. However, I feel the proposed 10% uncapped rake may be extremely uncompetitive. The idea to allow the entire world to play in MA online poker rooms is fantastic, but why would a European player want to play in a MA room when they can play on Pokerstars.com and pay a 5% rake capped at $3?

I believe an idea such as adding a live poker room to the slot license could be extremely beneficial a place like Plainridge. So a track with a slot license could have slot machines as well as offer poker games. Poker is different than other casino games in that players to do not play against the house, and there is an element of skill. This would fit in well at a racino without it being a resort casino. Also, more importantly it creates more jobs (dealers, floor staff), as opposed slots which are just machines.

Thanks for your consideration,

[LetsGambool]

Awesome, thank you for doing that! Keep us posted, and nice idea about the racetrack tables although I think amendments are tough at this point.