Online poker gambling initiative rejected in Massachusetts

The PPA was seeking to clarify whether or not online poker was included in the list of gambling activities that are prohibited in Massachusetts. As currently written, Massachusetts law does not specify that online poker is illegal.

The online gambling issue has become a hot topic for debate since last week's ruling against a lawsuit by the Interactive Media and Entertainment Gaming Association. The judge ruled that essentially it is the laws in individual states that will govern online poker's legality.

Coakley, however, rejected the petition from the PPA on the grounds that it was not in the correct form. Specific words used in the initiative such as "register" and "license" were brought to the forefront by Coakley.

While the Coakley ruling was a setback, it will not stop the groups that are trying to receive law clarifications regarding online gambling from moving forward in other states. California is one state that may benefit from last week's ruling. Governor Schwarzenegger has indicated that he may be willing to legalize online poker in the state.

As for Coakley, she will now turn her attention to running for the vacated Senate seat of Ted Kennedy. Coakley announced her candidacy for the Senate seat, and that is bad news for online gambling advocates because of her stance against Internet gambling.