While you were sleeping this session, State Senator Margarita Prentice (N)* introduced SB 6613, the purpose of which is “reaffirming and clarifying the prohibition against internet (sic) and certain other interactive electronic or mechanical devises to engage in gambling” Originally, the heinous crime of playing cards for money online was a gross misdemeanor, but TPTB saw fit to amend the bill and make it a class C felony punishable by up to ten years imprisonment instead. Other offenders in this class include sex criminals who don’t register with local authorities. The bill passed the State Senate unanimously, and only 5 house members voted against it :Chandler (R), Dunn (R), Holmquist (R), Morris (D), Nixon (R). Governor Gregoire signed the bill on March 28th and it goes into effect on June 7, 2006.
In our state it is fine to go down to the corner convenience store and spend your life savings on lotto tickets, or to head down to your neighborhood card room or nearby tribal casino and gamble away the kids college money. All of those are fine, only internet gambling is evil. You can get the full report here
The article from Pokernews brings up some interesting points about whether this type of legislation is a move to funnel gambling into state taxed and permitted businesses, and how the law can be enforced. Apparently, no governing body or agency has been tasked with the enforcement of the law and the only real way for the state to catch the card playing criminals would be for it to begin monitoring the online activities of it’s citizens-all citizens! Think of the NSA effort with phone records. The Bush administration wants to know who you are talking to on the phone and the state wants to know who your poker buddies are. So next time your up late playing a hand of no limit hold’em you won’t just have to worry about the shark across the virtual table, you might also need to keep an eye out for the state peeking over your shoulder.
* (N) - Nannycrat
Technorati Tags: SB 6613, Washington State, Poker, Class C, Felony, Bush, Online, Gaming, Pokernews, Governor, Gregoire, Margarita Prentice
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:18 am
[...] Doug suggested: "Think of the NSA effort with phone records. The Bush administration wants to know who you are talking to on the phone and the state wants to know who your poker buddies are. So next time your up late playing a hand of no limit hold’em you won’t just have to worry about the shark across the virtual table, you might also need to keep an eye out for the state peeking over your shoulder." [...]