Washington Votes Forum

Even the news stations have this one wrong. There are two types of felonies-ranked and unranked. This one is unranked-up to one year jail, community service, what have you. If it were to go beyond one year the courts have to put in writing why. No five years, no $10,000. For those of dreaming to be equalled to armed robbers, sex offenders, etc., you'll have to do something a bit more severe.

Clearly something prepared as it took her about 30 seconds to reply... Thank you for your e-mail message. So far, all discussions of the Internet Gambling bill (SB 6613) have gotten it EXACTLY BACKWARDS. Because there are three state laws and one federal law affecting gambling in Washington, it isn’t surprising that many people are confused. Several incorrect assumptions are evident from correspondence and editorials. One is that the cardrooms and tribes wanted a ban on Internet Gambling because it would benefit them. Two lawsuits - one brought by a Caribbean nation to the World Trade Organization and one in our state - demonstrated the potential that the cardrooms could get the tribal machines (video lottery terminals). And, if Internet Gambling was legal, the tribes would also be entitled to Internet Gambling so tribes did not support the ban. Another assumption is that Internet Gambling will be illegal in Washington State beginning June 7th and will be considered a felony. This is already Federal law and this bill makes our state consistent with that law. United States Department of Justice recently announced the indictment of two individuals and the corporations through which they operated their illegal, off-shore gambling websites. Those individuals and entities are also charged with money laundering over $250 million worth of illegal Internet gambling wagers. The indicted individuals are currently being sought as federal fugitives. Those who gamble on the Internet have no idea who is operating the game, if the game is run honestly, if winnings will be paid, or if the money will be used to further criminal activity. Internet gambling also creates an uncontrolled opportunity for addicts and children to gamble. In response to the growth of illegal Internet gambling activities the Legislature very specifically clarified and strengthened Washington’s existing statutory prohibition against Internet gambling. The specific term “Internet” was added to the law and one of the possible penalties for its violation was increased, providing law enforcement with additional tools to pursue those profiting from or supporting illegal Internet gambling. This legislation has also had the added benefit of increasing public awareness and our citizens are becoming better informed about the dangers and illegality of Internet gambling. Washington is also part of a multi-state and federal task force that is pursuing education and awareness, as well as coordinated enforcement activities, in order to combat illegal Internet gambling. Washington’s gambling statutes now provide a range of gross misdemeanor and felony penalties for Internet gambling violations, depending on the factual circumstances. The actual punishment for any felony conviction is controlled by the State’s sentencing guidelines and is considered an unranked felony. This means the standard range sentence that a court is authorized to impose on a “first offender,” absent aggravating circumstances, is 0 – 90 days in jail for a violation of this statute. As an Ex-Officio member of the Gambling Commission for 11 years, I’ve made it my business to become as knowledgeable as possible. Each gambling statute was passed at different times and has different missions. One thing has been constant: Internet Gambling has never been legal. No “right” has been taken away. Thank you, again, for taking the time to write. I appreciate the opportunity to provide accurate information. Sincerely, Margarita Prentice STATE SENATOR 11th Legislative District Chair, Ways and Means Committee 360-786-7616

I would tend to disagree with a few points. First, if Internet gambling is not an option to gamblers, both card rooms and Indian Casinos WILL benefit, because that will be gamblers' only outlet. It is perfectly clear that it is illegal to operate gambling sites on US soil, so this was NEVER an option to Indian casinos anyway, correct? Making the act of individuals simply playing on these sites a felony is a completely different issue. Second, what does a lawsuit by a card room obtaining video poker have anything to do with this ban. Third, gambling wrecklessly online is no easier than return trips to the ATM machine at any brick and mortar casino. Fourth, when you think of problem gambling, you think of families torn apart, retirement and savings lost, and other consequences not generally associated with children. Eliminating one of many outlets to an addiction does not cure the problem, as I'm sure you can concur through your former position. You want to fix problem gambling, institute problem gambling centers around the state and advertise them. You do realize that every site has a disclosure that you must be 18 to play and must set up an account through neteller or similar online bank to add funds to play. How many children have the ability to set up such an account? More importantly, how many children have substantial amounts of money to lose? If this is really about children, you should be targeting these online banks (all based in the US), to verify ages. Finally, caveat emptor. Let me decide for myself if i think a site is being operated fairly. I don't need Big Brother to do this for me. You want to solve all of these problems, legalize online gambling, tax it, and regulate it to ensure fairness. This just seems way too simple to me. As one of your many bosses, I ask that my voice be heard and that you represent it with your colleagues. Thank you.

Yes it does. It includes *ANYTHING* with the following elements: 1. Luck (even if only an incredibly small amount of it) 2. You put up money (apparantly the felony line is $20) 3. You could win anything of monetary value.

This is an utterly transparent attempt to protect a revenue source at the expense of personal liberty. Either gambling is a vice from which the (mindless) sheep must be protected or it is not. I just don't understand how the activity can be validated by the destination of the profits.

What's next? They will tell us when we can drive as gas prices are so high? You can't "ban" online gambling when you still "allow" people the chance to "gamble" on the horse races in the state of Washington in which is really a gamble while poker is not!! As many other's have also said, the state of Washington will still allow any of you to chance to play (give them your money) lottery and don't care that this is the one thing that the older people are losing there nesting egg on!! Of course they will take this cash instead of putting any type of ban on the lottery as they want as much of your cash as possible. CHANGE THIS LAW NOW AND SHOW ALL OF US A "NEW LAW" THAT MAKES SENSE!!...

I can gamble on every street corner in Washington yet I cannot gamble in the privacy of my own home. Rather than making tax paying citizens Felons for gambling online why don't you figure out a way to tax companies that operate within WA through the internet. Let's get creative rather than blame security and 9/11 to put your morals onto citizens that believe the internet should be free to use how we choose to use it.

If they are in the house today...they will not recieve my vote....Gone!!!!!

You make it illegal to gamble online but you still allow advertising on public radio and TV. How is the tax revenue from that being used. C'mon! You are OK with receiving tax dollars from companies offshore that that you would put me into prison for if I play poker online. Not one of you will receive a vote from me in november. You have all lost your mine or the Native American casino's are paying you top $$$$$

Have you accessed the Magic site since the law wnet into effect this week and they indicated that you could not "win" because you were from Washington State? THIS IS MAJOR NEWS. Please respond.

Attention WashingtonVotes comment forum users: if your post contains a link or a web address for a non-govt website, it will not be approved for posting. Someone has been including an "iGambling.blogsport" web address in their posts and such comments have not been approved. In the future, if you'd like your posts approved, do not include web addresses or links to non-govt websites.

It is a game of skill that uses cards - just like Bridge IT IS GAMBLING! Whenever your exchanging money for card hands its gambling. Play money is still legal because your exchanging CHIPS not actual money...........................................................................................

You are totally wrong about that hand history. You can check any hand history you want if you know how . You do not need to have been involved in the hand or even the game

this law sucks!!!!!!! why are we placed next to felons?

This state and it's constant bills and legislation passed- and it's RIDICULOUS BUDGET! (highest per capita in the US!) needs to be reminded that this is an elected government for the people, by the people! Let's sue the legislators, the gambling commision, and the govenor herself. It's time we take back our freedom to 'choose'!

But just HOW do we go about doing this?

Because Magic: The Gathering is considered a game of skill, it doens't fall under this law. Thats what the legal Dept said when I called.

I"m not a lawyer, but yes that would be considered illegal since the ads are advertising an illegal activity Big Brother is watching!

I wonder how much $$ the TVG network kicked in to get Horse Racing excepted? Actually I'm sure that the Horse Racing commission is doing anything they can to keep Emerald alive

While many of us agree that poker is a game of skill and not chance, until we get it defined that way in the RCW, it will remain illegal.

To protect those that give $$ to the representatives, and the precious tax revenue that this evil activity brings to the state.

You all complain that the state is being your nanny by telling you what you can and cannot do. Well to be quite honest, you WANT the sate to do that..otherwise you would not re-elect the same candidates over and over.

Not sure if everyone has heard but recently Todd Boutte had his gambling affliate site shut down for posting links to gaming sites. The reply from the gambling commission was even just the mention of a gambling site, and you are in violation of state law. This got me to thinking, so are they going to shut down ESPN, for showing WSOP? Because they will advertise online sites. Are they going to shut down Best Buy for selling World Poker Tour DVD's? Are they going to shut down Amazong for selling books on "How to win at Online poker?" Are they going to shut down Barnes and Noble for also selling said books? Are some of my examples extreme......possibly....but Seattle Times was already warned because they run Daniel Negraneaus poker player article and told to remove it from the paper. I guess the whole first admendment and "freedom of speech" no longer applies in Washington.

Since your website would be supporting an illegal activity, you could be found in volation and slapped with a Class C felony!

Is there a way for Washingotn citizens to challenge this law?

It _used_ to be an unranked felony. Now it's a class C felony. The argument about "sentencing guidelines" is pathetic. If a legislator doesn't actually believe the action should ever be cause for five years in prison, then they should never pass a law that can possibly be enforced in that manner. The "well, yeah the law says up to five years, but we'd never really do that!" line is morally reprehensible. It's gutless to pass this bill and then not be willing to back it up. If the legislative body wanted to treat players and operators differently, they should have spelled it out in two different bills. It's done all the time with drug laws.

although I do not at all support the bill, There are a few problems with what you said. ESPN and the other big ones are based outside of WA state and do not apply to the advertising rules, BUT, they would not shut down Barnes and Noble if they did base here because they know how people would react to this. Second, although we have freedom of speech, there are also laws that forbid certain material going through the media system, which is completely abiding to the rules. Nevertheless, this is a load of crap

If so you are in violation of Washington law, as I see your google ads on the right have links to online casino, online poker, and how to play online. Hope they don't close this site down too ;). Quote from gambling commissioner, "It's what the feds would call 'aiding and abetting,' " says the director of the state's gambling commission, Rick Day. "Telling people how to gamble online, where to do it, giving a link to it — that's all obviously enabling something that is illegal." Another quote about what day told Seattle times to do with their poker articles "My suggestion to you is to remove from your paper any advice about online gambling and any links to illegal sites," Day said.

Online Poker is the greatest way for someone to fulfill a hobby/career. Pretend we found a new way to wipe our rear ends without even touching TP or anything, and it's nearly free. The government doesn't like how they get nothing out of it, so they banish this new way and (for analogy reasons they get TP income) you can only wipe your rear end with normal TP. Plus, if you're caught doing the better way, you go to prison. Privacy and personal preference is threatened through greed.

They are succeeding in making WA state the most undesireable one to live in for the US. Good job! We salute you! I'm just gonna go rob the AMPM and get 1year in prison while my poker buddy gets 5 for playing his favorite game. Too bad I am a canadian citizen or else I would vote against these morons. 10 bucks says the whole legislator has a hard time walking and chewing gum at the same time, knowing how skilled they are. Seriously guys, jump off a bridge.

Freedom of speech and press hasn't mattered in the entire USofA since the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act took effect in November 02. Who said Communism was dead???

Nice going Gregoire... tired of all of Washington's dollars going to some foriegn country? I can see a state sponsered "Poker" site making an appearance some day soon. I'm so proud that they have devoted so much time and effort to this problem, better than wasting all that time on drug and crime prevention.

it means that the republic doesn't represent it's own people. Duh.

Come on, a felony for gambling online? Are our jails not full enough already? Indian money must be finding its way into senator's pockets.

If you look to your left, you'll see me. And most likely (previous to June 6) I played poker online the night before.

Commissioner Day-- Yesterday, I was in a Barnes and Noble near Seattle when I came across the book: Winning at Internet Poker for Dummies (part of the "Dummies" series). Day, I was agast. We can't allow this so-called book store get away with this. It is time to confiscate the books and arrest the manager. There were about ten other poker books with chapters on on-line gaming. They should be grabbed to. I am doing a background check of the authors to see if any are Washington residents. If they are collecting monies from the publishers, they may be guilty of abetting a felony. I am sincerely grateful that you shut down Todd Boutte's web-site (it is amazing what a little peek at a cease and dissist order can do). Todd's review of on-line sites was excellent, but obviously felonious. When are you going to put a cease and dissist against The Seattle Times for their syndicated column by Danien Negreanu, the noted gambler and how-to-column write. I have also noticed that the local library has copies of the Magazine "ALL IN." The current issue has a front cover heading: "Make More $$$ Online." The library staff is abetting on-line gambling and should be jailed immediately. I will compile a list of convenience stores also selling this an other similar magazines. A huge two-page ad on bodog.com occupies page 2-3. Bodog mailnly caters to sports gambling which is clearly in violation of the 1962 Wire Act. Oh, my God. I just mentioned a gambling web-site. I'm a felon. Commissioner Day, no need to track me down using your newly hired investigators, I will turn myself in to the nearest tribal casino. I am sure that you will be able to arrest me easily there. Yours, F. E. Lon

You pulled Daniel Negreanu's column--"Card Shark" from the Seattle Times, but my game has actually improved. I have never liked him. I did, however, like Bellingham's Todd Boutte's web-site: IntegrityCasinoGuide.com. He pulled it this week after your stormstrooper Rick Day threatened him with a cease and desist. Too bad, you don't have what he had: Integrity. I am still gambling--8 days into your stupid law. I sent your office my address, come and get me!!!

It depends on the web-site. Pokerroom treats the files differently from Partypoker.

Magic is a game of skill. Poker is a game of skill. Magic involves risk. Poker involves risk. Even Chess involves risk. White has a statistacl advantage and one flips a coin to deside board pieces. On-line chess involes risk. Under Washington law if on-line gaming involes any risk, any risk at all--its a felonius activity.

Follow the dollar, you are right this is just an attempt by the state to increase instate gambling so they can make more money.