Deval Exorcized By Online Poker Players - 03-22-08
Author: Marc Weinberg
March 22 - Boston online poker players had reason to rejoice yesterday when a pernicious bill tabled by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was defeated in the state house legislature. The bill would have allowed three new casinos to be built in the state. In a Fristian addendum snuck into the small print of the bill the Deval also tried to make online poker a felony punishable by imprisonment.
Deval Patrick is a political novelty; only the third black governor in the history of the USA. He's close friends with Barack Obama and also spends a lot of time talking about change in how politicians conduct themselves. Yet this looks a lot like business as usual for Americans with power.
First a special interest group with billions of dollars approaches a politician who likes to sound like Mr. Smith on his first trip to Washington (they all do). In this case it is land based casinos, the same chaps who brought Bill Frist to his knees. They want to build a few casinos and at the same time they want to put the squeeze on online casinos.
Patrick then has to perform like a circus juggler. He must argue that the land based casinos will provide much needed revenue and employment for his beloved state. In the same breath he must then denounce online gambling as evil and sordid, and call for it to be punished with jail time. Fortunately, the Deval will find a way. Unfortunately, the bill was knocked back by other politicians in the state who didn't have their palms greased...yet.
The big money special interest group lost the battle, but they usually win the war in America, so expect them to be back stronger than ever next year (remember to pay off more lawmakers next time). The bill is on the backburner for now but it would be premature for Massachusetts-based online poker players to take to the streets and celebrate.
