On Thursday, April 18, 2013 lawmakers in Massachusetts introduced an addendum to its 2014 fiscal year budget proposal calling for the legalization and regulation of online poker. The amendments to the bill would grant licenses to online poker operators. The bill is sponsored by 18 politicians two years after the U.S. Justice Department shut down several online poker sites.
Under the new proposal, any online poker operator would have to receive a Category 3 license. A maximum of three online poker operator licenses would be granted and it would be valid for ten years.
In 2006, congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which outlawed Internet betting sites. However, officials in Massachusetts argue that the federal law is not effective at stopping thousands of its citizens from playing internet poker through illegal offshore-based sites. Thus, they argue it should be legalized, regulated, and ultimately taxed.
For more information on gambling see our page on Massachusetts Law About Gambling and Casinos.
