Internet Gambling Still a Crime in Washington
May 19th, 2008
Playing online poker in the state of Washington is still a crime, after a superior court judge upheld a statute which outlaws online gambling with penalties of up to five years imprisonment.
The Statute, signed into law in 2006, makes playing poker online a class C felony on par with crimes such as threatening individuals or torturing animals.
Lee Rousso, Washington State Director of the Poker Players Alliance, had filed the motion against the Statute on grounds that it was unconstitutional. The court however upheld the law, rejecting claims that it discriminated against interstate business and finding it compatible with the constitution.
Mr. Rousso said: “The vast majority of Washington citizens have no objection whatsoever if their neighbour, co-worker or relative is playing poker on the internet from the privacy of their own home”.
Susan Arland of the Washington State Gambling Commission did however have an objection. “You don’t know who’s behind that screen,” she said. “You don’t know if the games are unfair or honest. You don’t know if you will get paid your winnings.”
She rounded off adding that by disclosing information that should be secure, you could be a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud.
It remains unclear where Ms. Arland had such an unpleasent online gaming experience.
Mr. Rousso said he will appeal the decision, and has vowed to take his fight all the way to the US supreme court.
Comments to this post
