Washington State Amends Internet Poker Law

Filed in archive Poker News on April 27, 2007

Washington state, home of the Supersonics, Starbucks, and the toughest penalty in the United States for being caught multi-tabling $25 buy in Pot Limit Omaha tables at home.

As the law stands now, you could be convicted of a felony for grinding out bonuses at your favorite online poker sites and serve the same terms as a convicted sex offender. Not a premium thing to think about while attempting a check-raise on turn with second pair and a big stack staring you down with that pirate avatar.

Now some news coming out about softening the blow, as they have passed a law making recreational gambling legal via the internet as long as its not for a business.

PocketFives reports on this breakthrough that could help set an example for other states trying to get online poker legalized, here's a shot of the report:

The amendment in Washington State passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin, 45 yeas to only 2 nays. The margin in the House of Representatives was slightly slimmer, 62 yeas to 36 nays. Current legislation in Washington makes gambling online prosecutable as a Class C Felony. This severe legislation, which became effective in June, 2006, sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the country. Representatives Strow, kirby, Upthegrove, B. Sullivan, Simpson, and Appleton sponsored H.B. 1243, "Providing an affirmative defense to unlawful internet gambling if the defendant committed the offense in his or her primary residence."

H.B. 1243 amends the existing legislation that makes gambling online a Class C felony by providing a carve-out for recreational players who gamble in their primary residence. The term "recreational," according to the legislation, means, "for the defendant's own enjoyment and not as part of an enterprise that derives income from the operation of an internet web site that transmits or receives gambling information." Legislation to reduce the severity of internet gambling from an offense punishable as a felony to a misdemeanor (H.B. 2127, H.B. 2320) has not yet come to fruition.