Hello My Friends,
I wanted to provide you a quick update of the happenings in our state regarding poker.
As you are aware, in most parts of the state, poker is illegal. Several small house games have been raided and money seized. The legal aspects of these raids are still in question and the attorneys will fight that out in court.
There have been in the last 2 years, efforts to legalize all table games in Maryland. Unfortunately, both years the Committee failed to pass it to the main body of the House and Senate thereby effectively killing the idea till next year. These bills will be reintroduced in the next session starting in January and all efforts will be made to push passage through and get our rights to play the game we love restored.
There has also been discussion to introduce separate legislation that would allow poker rooms to open in the State. These would be regulated and taxed like any other business and would potentially add hundred of thousand of dollars to the State revenue. The language is being discussed now and I will update you further on the progress.
Currently there are many legal places to play poker in southern Maryland. The Waldorf Jaycess has a tournament every 2 months. The VFW post in California Maryland has a tournament every other friday. There are many other tournaments that are available. You can see a partial listing at http://somd.com/calendar/
I will be around playing in some of these tourments and handing out information on The PPA, so you come up and say hi.
In closing, I encourage you all to go to the main PPA site and use the link to send a letter to your local legislators supporting the legalization of poker in America. Also, please take the time to give your support the PokerPac and renew your membership to the PPA. We are on the verge of great things, we just need to keep pushing.
Keep playing and see you all on the felt
Larry Maske
Maryland State Director