Washington State Law Change Makes Online Poker Players Felons
Law Goes into Effect Next Wednesday
by Bob Pajich
Starting June 7, playing poker online in the state of Washington is a Class C felony. Players can be fined $10,000 or sentenced to up to five years in prison, or both, thanks to a new law that is designed to curb online gambling in the state.
Governor Christine Gregoire signed the bill into law, which was unanimously approved by the state Senate, in late March. Five house members voted against the bill.
The bill covers all forms of online wagering, including poker.
“The legislators have made it very clear that that is not allowed,” said Susan Arland, rule coordinator and press contact for Washington State’s Gambling Commission.
Although the law puts Washington State’s online poker players in the same category as child pornographers, repeat drunk drivers, drug dealers, and identity thieves, Arland acknowledged it’s doubtful state officials will try to prosecute online poker players.
“We’re just letting people know that under Washington law it’s illegal to gamble on the Internet,” she said. “The law really didn’t change, it just clarifies it.”
But that doesn’t mean online poker players will never be prosecuted in Washington State. Washington is one of the states involved in what Arland called a “multi-state Internet gambling task force.” The task force includes Indiana, California, Missouri, Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others, as members.
One of the reasons the task force was formed about a year and a half ago was to figure out how online gambling players can be prosecuted.
Although Arland said that the main focus of Washington’s Gambling Commission was to prosecute people running online sites in her state, ways to prosecute players is “something that’s being looked into now” by both the state and the multi-state Internet gambling task force.
“Not to say we wouldn’t (prosecute players), but the focus wouldn’t be on an individual player,” Arland says.
Washington State doesn’t have an antigambling stance. Within its borders are 24 tribal casinos and 94 “house bank” cardrooms, which can legally spread poker and blackjack.
The latest Washington State Gambling Commission’s newsletter, called “Focus on Gambling,” contains a poster that is meant to be hung in cardrooms across the state to warn players about the state’s new rule. It reads:
“INTERNET GAMBLING is ILLEGAL. It is a FELONY Crime. You could go to PRISON, pay a FINE, or BOTH. You COULD LOSE YOUR GAMBLING license. KNOW THE LAW.”
Recently, the Federal House of Representatives Judiciary Committee moved forward an anti-Internet gambling bill. Click here to read about it. Also, click here for a detailed explanation of the Federal bill by Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Card Player Magazine’s legal expert.
Joined: Dec 15, 2004 Posts: 394 Location: SW Indiana, still a Pittsburgher though.
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:01 am Post subject:
Hopefully they just voted themselves out of office.
The anti-pokers are becoming as bad as the anti-smokers. _________________ AKA AlienSorrow. PiRaNhA at CD Poker.
Strategy and tactics first, gambling second.
Joined: Dec 14, 2004 Posts: 314 Location: Sunny Florida
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:37 am Post subject:
The problem is the inability to tax on line gambling, which SHOULD be taxed, like other vices. Once our government figures out the windfall of $$$ from on-line gambling, it will no longer be illegal. MHO
Totally agree is should be taxed (probably at a Federal level cause breaking it down to the states would be a PAIN in the butt).
Why not just give online Poker Licenses to the Major players like MGM, Wynn. Could you imagine what MGM/Mirage would do with a site like Pokerstars and what would happen to the rest of these 2 bit sites? Plus the tax revenue that would flow in. _________________ Masters Student - Omaha Hi/Low
Outplaying University
GO Out U!
I dont know about any other states, but in MI if you have a (single) gambling win over $600 you are supposed to claim it as income (at least thats the last figure I know of, might be different as of today). So hence, I don't transfer to my bank from Neteller more than that.
Problem solved?....... who knows..... but its worked for the last 4 years or so
Good luck this month players, although I will take 1st place!!!!!
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