PPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR ABANDONS GOVERNSHIP QUEST

4 April 2008

But feisty Rousso vows to continue the fight against Washington state's draconian online gambling laws


Lee Rousso, the feisty Seattle lawyer and Poker Players Alliance regional director has abandoned his campaign to unseat Washington state governor Christine Gregoire but says he will continue his fight to overturn the state's draconian laws against online gamblers.

Rousso cites a US Supreme Court decision upholding the state's "top two" electoral system as his reason for withdrawing from the gubernatorial race.

Writing on his website at http://leeroussoforgovernor.org/ the pro-poker campaigner announced his withdrawal 'with a heavy heart and great reluctance' but emphasised that what he isn’t giving up on his legal challenge to Washington’s Internet gambling ban, which was approved by the Legislature and signed by Gregoire in 2006.

“Even though I am dropping out of the political arena, I will continue to work to change the laws so that Internet poker players can enjoy the Great American Game from the privacy of their own home,” Rousso wrote. "My constitutional challenge to the law is set for a hearing on April 25, 2008. Assuming I get my day in court (something the State is desperate to avoid), I think I have a good chance at winning.

"Meanwhile, I encourage all my supporters to continue to fight the good fight. We are going to win this battle. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday soon."

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