Mass and CO See Poker Wins

February 13, 2009

A victory for poker in any state is viewed as a poker win for the entire country. In the quest to get poker legalized in the United States, poker groups are constantly fighting various legislations to see that accomplished. In some states it is far harder than others, so any victory that comes their way makes it easier for those harder areas to work on getting legal poker as well.

Now with two new victories in both Massachusetts and Colorado those dreams are becoming realities for some. House bill HR 3954 was amended in Massachusetts. The bill would expand gambling in the state, but had a provision that made online poker playing illegal. Not only that but it had a two year jail stay and a $25,000 fine for playing online poker associated with it. The criminal online poker provision has since been removed.

Rep. Barney Frank has said that he is working to reintroduce a bill that would make regulation of online poker and gambling operators a reality. The bill would create the framework that went with the regulation of the industry. Not only that but it would undo much of the damage that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act had caused for the banks and financial institutions.

In addition to all of this, a Colorado criminal trial found Kevin Raley not guilty of the illegal poker charges against him. Raley was in court after authorities had raided Rafferty’s Bar and busted up a poker game that was going on inside. The Colorado courts ruled that poker was a game of skill and therefore illegal gambling was not going on at the time of the bust.