A demonstration against new online gambling proposals in Boston, Massachusetts attracted several dozen people yesterday.
Gaming enthusiasts wore t-shirts with "poker is not a crime" on them, which were handed out by one of the rally's organisers, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
The PPA and the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS) have been lobbying the state's legislature to remove part of a bill championed by governor Deval Patrick. The clause in question would make playing poker online a serious offence punishable by a two-year jail term.
GPSTS spokesman Andrew Woods said his group was "very optimistic" that it could stop the law being passed.
"We've had assurances from the governor's office and from various members of the legislator that this particular provision isn't a high priority for them."
In a Boston Heral article, Charles Nesson, founder of the GPSTS, implied that Mr Patrick's plans are excessive and that the current rules are already too strict.
A demonstration against new online gambling proposals in Boston, Massachusetts attracted several dozen people yesterday.