Louisiana has been the state to watch lately when it comes to gaming legislation. Now though, attention is switching to the North West and most specifically Washington State. After a swift vote early in 2006, online gambling is set to be outlawed in the state in just one month’s time and with other states looking to follow suit, attention is now firmly focused on State Senate’s and not the big guns up on Capitol Hill, DC. What is perhaps most striking about Bill 6613 is not the fact that it prevents the state lottery from going online, or the fact that it will severely punish online poker players, but its upgrading of playing online from a gross misdemeanour to a Class C felony.
Unsurprisingly, locals aren’t too stoked by the idea that the state can describe frittering a few dollars as a felony, especially as this means possible jail time. However, the most interesting (and still possibly illegal) aspect is that the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jim Honeyford, has been on the receiving end of large sponsorships from some of the state’s thriving bricks and mortar casinos. That he’s aiming to bring an end to online gaming could possibly signify restriction of trade. In the meantime, if you fancy some online and live in Washington, it might be time to consider moving south or east.
Louisiana has been the state to watch lately when it comes to gaming legislation. Now though, attention is switching to the North West and most specifically Washington State. After a swift vote early in 2006, online gambling is set to be outlawed in the state in just one month’s time and with other states looking to follow suit, attention is now firmly focused on State Senate’s and not the big guns up on Capitol Hill, DC. What is perhaps most striking about Bill 6613 is not the fact that it prevents the state lottery from going online, or the fact that it will severely punish online poker players, but its upgrading of playing online from a gross misdemeanour to a Class C felony.