Check out our brand new Local Poker Communities! Get updates and interact with poker players in your area.
Visit the United States Poker Community | Visit the California Poker Community | Read more about the Launch of P5s Local

Washington State On-line Gambling/Poker Laws

Reply to Thread
  1. UsedToIt UsedToIt is offline

    Seattle, WA
    United States

    Posts: 22
    Joined: Feb 06

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 12:59pm)

    A rumor about Washington state law has concerned me of late about on-line gambling. A few posts I have read in the past couple of weeks have included statements saying that on-line poker will be outlawed in Washington when a new law goes into effect in June 2006.

    I have searched the Washington State goverment site and only found the old law pertaining to on-line gambling. The definition given for gambling is "staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome." Obviously poker can be agrued to be outside the realm of gambling in a court of law under this definition.

    Has anyone found a newer definition of gambling or a more recent law passed in the state of Washington that explicitly includes on-line poker? Any information would be much appreciated.
  2. colson10 colson10 is offline

    Posts: 166
    Joined: May 05

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 2:10pm) in reply to UsedToIt

    http://washingtonvotes.org/2006-SB-6613
     2
  3. PuertoKid PuertoKid is offline

    El Puerto De Santa Marķa
    Spain

    Posts: 916
    Joined: Apr 05

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 2:56pm) in reply to colson10

    colson, I'm sure you are going to stop playing online poker in June since you are a WA resident. What is your new job going to be?
  4. FourFives FourFives is offline

    Tacoma, WA
    United States

    Posts: 1,124
    Joined: Jul 05

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 3:57pm) in reply to colson10

    Mr. Olson,

    If you or anyone you know is interested in challenging this law, let me know. Thanks.

    Erik@ladenburgkramer.com
  5. UsedToIt UsedToIt is offline

    Seattle, WA
    United States

    Posts: 22
    Joined: Feb 06

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 4:16pm) in reply to colson10

    Thanks colson10. However, this new law again only mentions Gambling. As the definition of gambling is unchanged, this seems to only apply and strengthen previous laws on sending or recieving gambling information via the internet. If on-line poker was legal before this law (or in a grey area) I do not see any language in the law that would make on-line poker illegal or even less of a grey area. Your or anyone elses thought . . .
    Thread Starter
  6. UsedToIt UsedToIt is offline

    Seattle, WA
    United States

    Posts: 22
    Joined: Feb 06

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 4:53pm) in reply to UsedToIt

    Further clarification:

    Section three of the new law is the only part that specifically mentions "poker or other cards." This section of the bill applies to RCW 67.70.040; a law outlining the lotery comission's powers and duties. That law prohibits the lottery commission from setting up a state-run lottery that would require users to participate by using an electronic poker device. The specific lines of the bill that I am referring to are lines 24-31 page 2 of substitute senate bill 6613.

    Again, this seems like it would NOT apply to electronic poker terminals in Washington State so long as the server of the on-line poker room was outside of Washington State.
    Thread Starter
  7. PuertoKid PuertoKid is offline

    El Puerto De Santa Marķa
    Spain

    Posts: 916
    Joined: Apr 05

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 5:36pm) in reply to FourFives

    How much would it cost us? Probably way more than my expected return from poker.
  8. FourFives FourFives is offline

    Tacoma, WA
    United States

    Posts: 1,124
    Joined: Jul 05

    May 2nd, 2006 (5/2/2006 5:55pm) in reply to PuertoKid

    I dont' know how good you are at poker.

    If no one person wants to step up to fight this, maybe several people could pool their money together. Litigation is not cheap but if poker is your only source of income and you don't want to move, what options to you have? Play at the Muckleshoot?

    I love poker too so I would pursue this case on a discounted fee.
Reply to Thread

Similar Threads