Greetings:

My name is Randy Castonguay and I am the Massachusetts Representative for the Poker Players Alliance.

Recently, Governor Deval Patrick proposed a bill (H.4307) that seeks to expand casino gambling in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This bill also includes a proposition that would make it a crime for you to play poker on the Internet (See: Section 15(h)(2)(i)). Under this provision, violators will be subject to a maximum term of 2 years in the house of correction, a fine of $25,000, or both. Ironically, H.4307 is pro-casino gambling legislation, yet it makes Internet gaming a crime. This is an unacceptable double-standard!

The Poker Players Alliance is committed to assisting Massachusetts poker players by bringing attention to this attack on our rights; however, we cannot do this alone. We need your help and are asking that you send letters to Governor Deval Patrick, your local State Representative and your State Senator. We have provided a standard letter which will automatically be sent to the above politicians. We encourage you to personalize the letter by adding your own comments. We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to make your voice heard.

Protect poker and send your letter today by visiting http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersallian...61&type=ML

This alert is specifically for poker players from Massachusetts who want to protect their rights.

We will update you on this situation as information becomes available to us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ma@pokerplayersalliance.org.

All In,
Randy Castonguay
Poker Players Alliance Massachusetts State Director

Im sure the republicans are somehow trying to find a connection with the increase of professional poker players and the economy going in the toilet lol. Dont you get it people! If all poker players were working at mcdonalds, the world would be a much better place

Ummm.... Governor Patrick is a democrat.

Obviously the brick and mortor lobby got their way.

Gee, I wonder how that happened with a principled righteous democrat in office.

Oh wait... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ knows no party.

you mean "land of the free" like US?? you kidding right....?

the fallout of the U.S government criminalizing online
poker would have trickle down effect to other entities
on the internet.Once,successfully at showing it's teeth,
it would be a matter of time that it sates it's appetite
by extracting and passing a user fee.So a win for online
poker is a win for everyone.

I heard about this a week or two ago and I could`nt quite grasp it.They are making a bill to illeagalize gambling on a bill that is trying to leagalize gambling.Does this sound stupid to anyone else?

What do you expect from a state that re-elects Ted Kennedy?

Special Interest + Bribe Money(Campaign Donations or Favors) = BS

It always amazes me how blatant some politicians are in regards to supporting special interest groups to the detriment of the public.

It is clearly obvious that making online poker illegal in the same bill that legalizes live poker is hypocritical and stems from money/favors changing hands.

Maybe the Governor would do better if he didn't let Harrah's write the legislation he proposes.

<SPAN class=mw-headline>Wikepedia has some interesting comments about this Governor. I have posted the controversies section here but here is a link to his complete bio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deval_Patrick

Controversies</SPAN>
In the early months of Patrick's administration a series of decisions the governor later conceded as missteps have brought substantial unfavorable press. These include spending almost $11,000 on drapery for the governor's state house suite, changing the state's customary car lease from a Crown Victoria to a Cadillac, and hiring a staff assistant (who had previously helped chair his election campaign) for the Commonwealth's first lady at an annual salary of almost $75,000. Emerging from a weekend of working on the state's budget and calling for cuts in services to taxpayers, Patrick responded in a February 20, 2007 press conference that "I realize I cannot in good conscience ask the agencies to make those choices without being willing to make them myself,"<SUP class=reference id=_ref-Boston.com_20070221_0>[18]</SUP> Patrick subsequently reimbursed the Commonwealth for the cost of the drapery and furniture purchased for the state house, and the additional monthly difference in his car lease.<SUP class=reference id=_ref-Boston.com_20070221_1>[18]</SUP> First Lady Diane Patrick's staff assistant, Amy Gorin, resigned. <SUP class=reference id=_ref-17>[19]</SUP> Later in the same month Patrick again came under fire, this time for contacting Citigroup Executive Committee chair, and former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin on behalf of the financially beleaguered mortgage company Ameriquest, a subsidiary of ACC Capital Holdings of which Patrick is a former board member. Both Citigroup and ACC Capital Holdings have substantial holdings in Massachusetts.<SUP class=reference id=_ref-WBUR_0>[20]</SUP> Patrick attempted to deflect criticism claiming he was calling not as governor but as a private citizen. Later Patrick backed down, stating "I appreciate that I should not have made the call. I regret the mistake."<SUP class=reference id=_ref-WBUR_1>[20]</SUP>

Patrick's Sep. 11 memorial service speech in 2007 caused a controversy as well. Among other things, he said "It was a mean and nasty and bitter attack on the United States. But it was also about the failure of human beings to understand each other and to learn to love each other. It seems to me that lesson at that morning is something that we must carry with us every day." This was criticized by several newspapers as well as some relatives of the victims. Jim Ogonowski, a brother of the 9/11 victim and a congressional candidate called the comments "completely inappropriate." <SUP class=reference id=_ref-18>[21]</SUP><SUP class=reference id=_ref-19>[22]</SUP>

During the election, Patrick's membership in the historically elitist Fly Club drew the sincerity of his progressive and populist political mantra into question. <SUP class=reference id=_ref-20>[23]</SUP> Patrick claims to have left the club in 1983, when he realized the discrepancy. Still, the criticism he drew could be compared to that of his Democratic colleague, Ted Kennedy, for membership in another final club while at Harvard.

People need to understand that the move against online poker comes mostly from land-based casino companies.

God you American's got some problems....such a protectionist state you guys are....."America, Land of the Free" .... GTFO!!!!

And because of you guys, our lovely new Conservative government in Canada who kisses ass to Bush with your current government's stupid right wing fanatical Christian idealogy that our lovely conservatives will copy, is going just follow in the same footsteps as the US....and eventually ban online poker too...

Bravo USA...you guys set such good examples for everyone in North America, while Europeans know how to be liberal and live life.....

You're stupid War on Drugs never worked and neither will this War on Online Gambling....

You're country is almost bankrupt....I think you guys should be more worried about that, rather than trying to ban poker....

I travel to lots of different countries. What really amazes me about places like Toronto, Canada is how they desperatley want to be like the USA. Its Ironic that they crit. the USA but try so hard to copy us....LOL

" After Governor Patrick learned of the PPA's involvement on this issue, he has sought to invoke the bill as an "emergency law". "

Nothing like the citizens of MA knowing their governor considers their right to gamble an emergency, but just not on the internet!!!

Downbylaw that was funny, you remind me of every liberal I meet. YOu have no idea what is going on and just talk out your ass. Mass is about as liberal as you get, I don't understand why people including Bush don't understand that the Republican party stands for less Government. One more time LOL at Republicans in Teddy Kenndys state.

Patrik obv. is a donk, and A) never played poker, B) played poker and lost and is jealous.

At least the other dude was smart and slipped it in a port security act and not a friggin Pro-gambling bill.

I call all day