Online Poker A Felony?
on 05.28.06, 01:00pm in computers • comments (4)
[Make You Go Hmmm] Washington residents who play poker or make other types of wagers on the Internet will be committing a Class C felony, equivalent under the law to possessing child pornography, threatening the governor or torturing an animal. Although the head of the state Gambling Commission says it is unlikely that individual online gamblers will be targeted for arrest, the new law carries stiff penalties: as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Wow. There’s several folks that I know of that are going to need to find a new hobby now.
Joe G (May 28, 2006 @ 10:20 pm)
I’m so sick of government treating us like children. AT TIMES THIS SURE DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY. I live in Utah and California. Califronia is so much more liberal. Utah feels like you’re living with the Taliban.
Beau (May 29, 2006 @ 12:51 pm)
This isn’t legislating morality, like it might seem on the surface. Washington has a large Native American population, and their casinos are threatened by online gambling. This is a play to protect their near-lock on gambling in the state.
Beau
Brian Hampson (May 29, 2006 @ 1:18 pm)
Beau’s got it right. Plus, doesn’t the government get a cut from that? We all know the Government hates competition
Randy (May 30, 2006 @ 8:51 am)
Well, here’s the kicker, with regards to poker laws:
- you can play cards in a private game in WA, so long as “the house” doesn’t get any of the cash.
- you can play on a reservation without worry
- you can play in card rooms, scattered around the state, which is more liberal than most states
- only online is it illegal
Oi, what a mess.