New Online Gambling Laws Proposed for Massachusetts and New Hampshire

A new law proposed in the Massachusetts legislature, would allow more land based casinos while criminalizing online gambling and internet poker. The main reason for the bill is to get two new land based casinos licensed, at a cost of $100 million each. Also included in the bill are four new slot machine licenses worth $15 million each.

Apparently, the writer of the bill wanted no ambiguity about it’s intent. The bill contains the following wording: : “Any person who knowingly transmits or receives a wager of any type by any telecommunication device, including telephone, cellular phone, internet, [or] local area network … or knowingly installs or maintains said device or equipment for the transmission or receipt of wagering information shall be punished.” The punishment is up to two years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.

There is great opposition to the bill and experts say that even if it passes, it will most likely be changed, hopefully removing the above language.

While this is going on in Massachusetts, Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire is reportedly going in the opposite direction. He is considering legalizing online gambling as a way to bring in more tax revenue. Gov. Lynch as recently opposed legislation allowing more land based casinos and slot machines.

Author: GamesAndCasino