On June 7 all online poker players from Washington become felons!

[Synergistic Explosions]

[ QUOTE ]
In January of this year, Democratic State Senator Margarita Prentice introduced legislation in the Washington Senate to “reaffirming and clarifying the prohibition against internet (sic) and certain other interactive electronic or mechanical devises to engage in gambling”. The legislation, called Senate Bill 6613, also focused on keeping the state run lottery off of the Internet as well and announced severe penalties for engaging in online poker and gaming. Before it was passed out of the Senate for consideration from the Washington House of Representatives with no one voting against the bill on February 14th, the bill was amended to move the punishment for engaging in online wagering up from a gross misdemeanor to a Class C Felony, which outlines a punishment of up to ten years in prison and is usually reserved for prosecution of sex offenders who fail to register with the state under their “Megan’s Law” guidelines. After its passage in the senior hall of the state government in Olympia, it was almost like the bill was put on the fast track to the governor of the state, Democrat Christine Gregoire. The House received the bill on February 16th and, a short two weeks later, passed the bill by a 93-5 margin. With that, the bill was off to Governor Gregoire and, on March 28th, the bill became law in the state of Washington and will take effect on June 7th.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ColdCaller]

D:

Good thing they won't enforce the law.

[Synergistic Explosions]

They could enforce it anytime they wish to. Just takes one overzealous prosecutor hoping to make a name for himself. He will probably be a Christian Republican looking to run for state senate in the next election.

[Chris.]

And my affinity for the Democratic Party continues to fade...

[atlasontilt]

http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2006-SB-6613

I'm assuming this is the source....

[PokerFox]

This just gives me another reason to hate Democrats,

'the people's party' my ass.

[CrayZee]

I love the state of Wershington. They give out free lotto ticket coupons, say the profits are for "the children of the state", and ban competition. Gotta love government replacing the mafia.

Now it's time to ban the live cardrooms they're collecting a vig on.

[Synergistic Explosions]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2006-SB-6613

I'm assuming this is the source....

[/ QUOTE ]

This one has commentary: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/5...egislation.htm

[ QUOTE ]
Secondly, this new law is odd in that Washington has a thriving brick and mortar casino history. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Margarita Prentice, has been the recipient of several contributions from casino and gaming interests in the state

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh gee, makes sense now.

[CrayZee]

Does this mean that people that play "penny poker" on the internet are felons on June 7th?

I like how pot is the lowest priority "crime" in the state and nickel-diming poker players are felons. Nice.

[Synergistic Explosions]

What do murderers, child molestors, rapists, drug dealers and Party poker players have in common?

A ten year felony sentence. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]