Pro-Poker Interests Unite ahead of Mass. Casino Proposal Hearing

On the steps of the State House in downtown Boston, Mass., two pro-poker groups staged a rally to raise awareness of a proposed bill which includes provisions that would criminalize Internet gambling in the state.

The tandem, which included members of the Poker Players Alliance and Harvard's Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society, was on hand ahead of today's hearing on Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to license three resort casinos before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

"It's the height of hypocrisy that provisions like these would be included in a bill that seeks to expand brick-and-mortar casinos but at the same time criminalizes those who wish to play the game from the comfort of their own home," PPA Executive Director John Pappas told IGN.

The provisions -- which have also drawn criticism from Harvard Law professor Charles Nesson, who heads the Harvard group -- threaten Massachusetts residents with hefty penalties: two years in jail and up to $25,000 in fines.

"I don't think filling our expensive jail cells with poker players is what Massachusetts voters had in mind when they elected Deval Patrick," Nesson said in a prepared statement.

"You get a couple DUIs before you get two years in jail in the commonwealth," echoed Andrew Woods, a Harvard Law student and spokesman for GPSTS, in an interview with the Boston Herald.

Nesson and other members of the PPA were scheduled to testify at today's hearing.

The committee could issue a report on the bill today and send it to the Massachusetts House of Representatives as early as Thursday.

At the time of posting, a spokeswoman with Patrick's office said the hearing was still in progress.

Nesson, PPA State Director Randy Castonguay and Gov. Patrick could not be reached for comment.

Video and transcripts of today's testimony may be viewed here.

A copy of the proposal may be viewed here.