WASHINGTON STATE SCREW-UP
27 April 2007
Governor's office explains HB1243 confusion
Widely reported moves by Washington state politicians
(see previous InfoPowa reports) to ameliorate the
draconian anti-online gambling laws in Washington state
were the cause of some embarrassment for the state today
(Thursday)
Casino City reports at
http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentID=165571
that earlier reports that the Washington State
legislative branches have passed a bill amending the
state's anti-online gaming laws are false, according to
a statement today from the Governor, Christine Gregoire's office.
"It didn't pass through the legislature," said John
Lane, the Executive Policy Advisor for the Washington
Governor. Explaining the reason for the confusion, Lane
said that the Washington State legislature posted
results for HB 1243, prompting media reports that the
bill had passed and was on its way to the Governor's
office.
The results posted by state officials were actually the
votes for HB 1343, a Motor Vehicle Registration bill,
and the error occurred during the posting.
Reports that the Washington State legislative branches
have passed a bill amending the state's anti-online
gaming laws are therefore incorrect, the Governor's
office said.
HB 1243, a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Strow, is an
attempt to repeal wording in the anti-online gambling
statute that makes violators Class C felons. It also
allows Washington residents to gamble online in their
homes for recreational purposes.
Other Class C felonies under Washington State law
include but are not limited to acts of child
molestation, stalking, drive by shootings, threatening
the governor, family abandonment, heroin possession and
unauthorized abortion. Persons convicted of a Class C
felony face a maximum of 5 years in prison and a fine of
up to $10 000, Casino City comments.
"While I do see the need for protecting our citizens
from online gaming that may be scamming innocent
victims, I do think that there is also a level of
accountability, as an adult, to do as he or she chooses
in his or her own home," Strow said. "Most certainly
choosing to gamble, or play a game of skill such as
poker, should not have been made a crime equivalent to
possessing child pornography or threatening the
Governor."
"I can't imagine why we would want to put people in jail
for one to five years for playing poker online," Strow
said.
Representative Strow does not appear very optimistic
about the chances of his bill passing, and he is looking
into alternatives that may receive more congressional
support like keeping the law intact, but changing the
punishment back to a misdemeanor.
Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa
More news here.
Top of page |
Home |
News |
Forum |
Webcast |
Vortran |
Accredited Casinos |
Evil Ones |
Pitch a Bitch |
Online Gambling Resources |
Poker
|
