Online gambling still illegal (in Wash. state)

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Times

Playing poker for money online will remain illegal in Washington state, a King County Superior Court judge ruled Thursday morning.

... The lawsuit was filed last year in response to a 2006 revision to a state statute that added online gambling to the list of electronically transferred gambling activities banned in Washington state.

The law also makes online gambling a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. No cases have been prosecuted.

The Poker Players Alliance, which claims more than 1 million members and estimates 800,000 online poker players in Washington, said the punishment is outrageous.

"Subjecting poker players to criminal penalties that are on par with those for possessing child pornography or distributing heroin is unmerited and unfair," said spokesman Taylor Gross.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004418390_gambling16m.html

[LakeSamish706]

1. It would sure be interesting to know how they would police this. n/t

[pokercat999]

3. My guess is they will target flagrant violators through

their ISP. Try to make an example to scare the other "criminals".
All the while we are truly a criminal country with an illegal war of aggression against a people that could do us no harm......fucking wonderful country, isn't it?
:banghead:

[depakid]

11. Supposedly, they're after the "casino" operators

and they're not prosecuting individuals.

According to a quick story on NW cable news (a group of "mainstream" local news channel(s) so I can't vouch for their veracity).

[pokercat999]

12. All the online casinos are located in other countries.

We would probably be in violation of WTO rules if we blocked them. Rules of course are for the other guy.

This is probably just about getting enough publicity to scare the law abiding citizen into giving up his small vice. One more way for a fascist state to keep the government thumb on the people and get them used to it.

[poppysgal]

7. Are the big boys behind this?

Is this a move by the "Good-fellas" or is this yet just another act by our beloved homeland security? Will they leave nothing alone? First they raise the rates on our beer then they go after our Friday night poker game that we play at home because alas and sigh we can't afford to drive anywhere else to play. Geez Louise come on! There are few "legal" vices left.:smoke: :beer:

[pokercat999]

2. I take it these were democrat legislators?

"2006 revision to a state statute that added online gambling"

Disgusting fools, dem or rethug they should be voted out of office then tarred and feathered with poker cards.

[JTFrog]

4. I don't understand.

I am only aware of the history of the republicans behind this. Was this something that happened at a state level before Frist and Kyl adopted this fight?

*edit - Kyl not Kyle.

[pokercat999]

5. I think we are talking about a STATE law. I thought

(maybe incorrectly) that Washington State was a Democratic stronghold with a Democratically controlled legislature, if I'm wrong my apologies. If correct my statement stands as does my democrat slur and call for the tar and card treatment. Irregardless, I still think it's a fucked up country and the best I I thought i could do was vote for Democrats.....but I wish we were better than this.

[JTFrog]

6. I just didn't realize that it was before the whole Frist and Kyl SAFE Port Act.

Doesn't make sense.

Barney Frank has been working to undo all this craziness. I wasn't aware of the Dem's that were backing this at the state level. It's illegal in my state, but my state couldn't get any redder.

[pokercat999]

8. Follow the money...who will lose? Is live poker legal in

Washington state? Are their casinos? Who receives pac money from these groups if they exist?

[customerserviceguy]

9. There are a lot of tribal gaming establishments

and they have put a lot of money into anti-gambling lobbying. Follow the money...

[cemaphonic]

10. Yep, aside from the many tribal casinos, cardrooms are legal.

There are about a dozen within a 10-minute drive of my house in north Seattle.