Online Casinos - Casinomeister Logo Online Casinos - Casinomeister
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: SAD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

  1. #1
    Casinomeister's Avatar
    Casinomeister is offline Cheermeister Achievements:
    Meister ReferrerVeteranCreated Album picturesCreated Blog entry50000 Experience Points
    Join Date
    Jun 1998
    Location
    We be chillin'...
    Posts
    19,023
    Blog Entries
    7
    Thanks
    3,211
    Thanked 11,260 Times in 3,877 Posts
    Rep Power
    15
    Reputation Points: 59579

    SAD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

    SAD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

    Lee Roussos challenge to anti-online gambling law rejected

    Hopes that the state of Washington may be dissuaded from its policy of imposing excessive Felony C punishments on any of its citizens caught gambling online faded this week with the failure of lawyer Lee Roussos's challenge to the law in a King County Court (see previous InfoPowa reports)

    While the judge ruled that Rousso had legal standing to bring the suit forward, something he fought 10 months for, she said his challenge did not satisfy the narrow standard to invalidate the law.

    But the gutsy lawyer and local Poker Players Alliance director may make one more attempt to bring some sense to the issue, hinting at further action when he told reporters from the Seattle Post that the issue will ultimately be decided by the US Supreme Court.

    The punitive measures attached to the anti-online gambling law by Washington state legislators equate to those reserved for child molesters and repeat drunk driving offenders, and have been widely criticised as disproportionate and inequitable in a state that approves most other forms of gambling.

    "The state loves gambling, it's a gigantic business. It's just the state protecting its turf," Rousso claimed after the hearing, referring to the state-sponsored lottery, Indian casinos and horse racing approved by the state.

    Rousso had argued that the 2006 law violates the commerce clause in the U.S. Constitution and is cruel and unusual punishment.

    Following his day in court, he relayed Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts' decision rejecting his challenge to some 70 red shirted poker fans who had gathered at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in support of Roussos's case in a placard demonstration.

    "That's just the way the game is played," Rousso told the Seattle Post. "The court of law is probably the biggest casino there is. There is virtually no public support for this law."

    Poker ace Barry Greenstein was at the courthouse in solidarity with Rousso, and commented on the fact that Washington is the only state that prohibits online betting of any type by its residents.

    "The politicians are dictating what you can do in the privacy of your own home. It makes it look like a pretty backward place," he said.

    Rousso addressed a pointed rhetorical question to Washington legislators: "Do you really want to throw people in prison who want to play poker?" he asked.
    Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
    ~Ben Franklin

    Useful links: ~ Accredited Casinos ~ I-Gaming Representatives ~ Evil Section ~ My Wish List ~ Donate Now!

  2. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Casinomeister For This Useful Post:

    Auditor (16th May 2008), GaryWatson (16th May 2008), GGW Laurie (16th May 2008), Jasminebed (22nd May 2008), kakata (16th May 2008), Lisa10xxx (16th May 2008), stepfordwife (16th May 2008), yameater (31st May 2008), zuga (22nd May 2008)

  3. #2
    Auditor is offline Experienced Member Achievements:
    VeteranTagMeister5000 Experience PointsTagMeister Second Class
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    APCW Lunar Base
    Posts
    290
    Thanks
    84
    Thanked 162 Times in 92 Posts
    Rep Power
    27
    Reputation Points: 749
    JTodd was in the courtroom and spoke with Lee after the verdict.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRhh4GemHA
    Fighting for trust, honesty and integrity
    in the online gambling industry!
    www.apcw.org

  4. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Auditor For This Useful Post:

    Casinomeister  (16th May 2008), GaryWatson (16th May 2008), Jasminebed (17th May 2008)

  5. #3
    Casinomeister's Avatar
    Casinomeister is offline Cheermeister Achievements:
    Meister ReferrerVeteranCreated Album picturesCreated Blog entry50000 Experience Points
    Join Date
    Jun 1998
    Location
    We be chillin'...
    Posts
    19,023
    Blog Entries
    7
    Thanks
    3,211
    Thanked 11,260 Times in 3,877 Posts
    Rep Power
    15
    Reputation Points: 59579
    <gasp!>

    Washington State upheld its monopoly protectionist laws!

    I'm shocked!


    not
    Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy
    ~Ben Franklin

    Useful links: ~ Accredited Casinos ~ I-Gaming Representatives ~ Evil Section ~ My Wish List ~ Donate Now!

  6. #4
    GaryWatson is offline Dormant account
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    862
    Blog Entries
    6
    Thanks
    280
    Thanked 409 Times in 211 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation Points: 2140
    So frustrating. I dont think the courtroom will do much good. The result was determined before the evidence was given. Public opinion seems the only way to pressure for a turnaround

  7. #5
    lots0's Avatar
    lots0 is offline Not a Damn Huggin Bear
    Achievements:
    Veteran10000 Experience PointsPeople Likes YouFriends R Us
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Hell on Earth
    Posts
    2,203
    Thanks
    1,393
    Thanked 1,612 Times in 805 Posts
    Rep Power
    79
    Reputation Points: 8982
    Wht is soo funny is that the government is saying that they don't "intend" to put players in prison for 15 to 20 years for playing poker, that the law was designed to go after the online casinos.

    First... Washington state can't go after the online casinos because they are ALL out of their jurisdiction, so Washington state can't touch them.

    Second... Why in the name of sanity would the government make a law they don't "intend" to enforce?

    Third..... In a year or two, there will be new prosecutors that may well decide to start serious enforcement of this law and start filling up their state prisons with poker players.

    I am not in any way shape or form a neo-conservative, but I do like what these guys are saying... Leave Us Alone
    Beware... Killer Teddy in the house...

  8. #6
    vinylweatherman's Avatar
    vinylweatherman is offline Ueber Meister Achievements:
    Veteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrivePeople Likes YouFriends R Us
    Awards:
    Frequent PosterCommunity AwardMost Popular
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    10,218
    Thanks
    373
    Thanked 6,437 Times in 3,452 Posts
    Rep Power
    257
    Reputation Points: 35299
    Perhaps THEY are playing "poker" with online players. They can't get the casinos, but they CAN scare away their customers.
    The test will come when they attempt to jail online players.
    There are laws here in the UK which impose seemingly disproportionate penalties, but judges do not impose them in the vast majority of cases (as well as this, our prisons are too full )

    One thing polititians fear the most is losing their jobs (they will say, and do, whatever they feel it takes to keep them). If they began to jail online players, it might cause a stink in the media, with comparisons made with state sponsored monopoly gambling, and perhaps even the light or non-existent penalties imposed on the polititians for their own immoral conduct while in public office.
    I would suspect that those not into online gambling have little idea about this draconian law, but if they did, it could well put them off the legalised forms of online gambling that states might which to add to their monopolies.

    EU state monopolies are in retreat, as the European court has ruled most of them unlawful under free trade laws, since some EU states licence online gambling, and argue they should be able to offer the service to ALL other EU states.
    Empty Fruities Astern Capt'n
    Back to port for unloading.
    Full Sails - before we get raided ourselves.

  9. #7
    Jasminebed's Avatar
    Jasminebed is offline Closer to 100 than Birth Achievements:
    VeteranCreated Album picturesCreated Blog entry50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    2,576
    Blog Entries
    16
    Thanks
    4,724
    Thanked 1,753 Times in 1,001 Posts
    Rep Power
    77
    Reputation Points: 9809
    Have any arrests been made under these laws? Offering players a "plea bargain" of a fine and probation might further line the state coffers.

    Maybe some martyrs could turn themselves in to police and see what happens.

    I live in Canada, so I have not followed all the US gambling legislation closely, but where the US goes, we usually follow.

  10. #8
    me_and_ed's Avatar
    me_and_ed is offline Meister Member Achievements:
    Veteran25000 Experience PointsFriends R Us
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Vancouver
    Posts
    1,206
    Thanks
    470
    Thanked 830 Times in 323 Posts
    Rep Power
    51
    Reputation Points: 4271
    Quote Originally Posted by Jasminebed View Post
    I live in Canada, so I have not followed all the US gambling legislation closely, but where the US goes, we usually follow.

    Not so much as it used to be, even our apothetic government is sick of US policy on many stands (this is not intended to start a debate or piss off US government supporters) .

  11. #9
    bryand's Avatar
    bryand is offline Beach Bum Achievements:
    VeteranCreated Album pictures10000 Experience PointsFriends R Us
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Among The Sea Oats
    Posts
    987
    Thanks
    701
    Thanked 590 Times in 367 Posts
    Rep Power
    37
    Reputation Points: 3201
    Quote Originally Posted by me_and_ed View Post
    Not so much as it used to be, even our apothetic government is sick of US policy on many stands (this is not intended to start a debate or piss off US government supporters) .
    An oxymoron these days

  12. #10
    MJackson's Avatar
    MJackson is offline Full Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Miami, I, I mean Montreal
    Posts
    49
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts
    Rep Power
    17
    Reputation Points: 131
    Have any arrests been made under these laws? Offering players a "plea bargain" of a fine and probation might further line the state coffers.
    From everything I know about these types of draconian moralist laws the above statment seems very astute. The conspiracy drug laws, RICO, even tax evasion laws have all been used for exactly the purpose this poster was talking about. The cops hit someone up with a charge that potentially carries 20 or 30 years in prison then say, "hey, you don't really want to go to jail do you?. And there ain't no garuntee and jury isn't going to send you there so why don't you do the smart thing and work with us."

    Then 3 bank accounts, a mercedes, a house and 500 hours of community service later, the accused are freed and go back to their lives trying to dodge bad laws meant to give police the maximum power over anyone they choose to indict.

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MJackson For This Useful Post:

    Jasminebed (22nd May 2008), lots0 (22nd May 2008)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Washington law to be challenged in court soon
    By jetset in forum Casinomeister's Poker Room
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 3rd August 2007, 10:42 AM
  2. Perspectives Weekly 07/13/07 News- UIGEA/Mexico/Washington State
    By Auditor in forum Casino Industry Discussion
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 13th July 2007, 10:56 PM
  3. Washington State Slots
    By ilbcnu4poker in forum Casino Industry Discussion
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 27th April 2007, 01:31 PM
  4. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 7th December 2006, 02:17 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Legal Statements and Privacy Policy
Casinomeister.com does not intend for any of the information contained on this website to be used for illegal purposes. You must ensure you meet all age and other regulatory requirements before entering a casino or placing a wager. Online gambling is illegal in many jurisdictions and users should consult legal counsel regarding the legal status of online gambling and gaming in their jurisdictions. The information in this site is for news and entertainment purposes only. Casinomeister.com is an independent directory and information service free of any gaming operator's control. Links to third party websites on Casinomeister.com are provided solely for informative/educational purposes. If you use these links, you leave this Website.