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Washington State Goes Backwards Despite all the success and support that Barney Frank has had for his non-prohibition style bill, it looks like Washington state might still be interested in keeping UIGEA era type legislation for their own residents. The state has recently upheld a law that says that playing online poker within the borders of the state is a felony! It’s apparently not enough to just write up a warning, or a misdemeanor charge, but it’s clearly more appropriate to classify online gambling with robbery or arson. What is even more unbelievable is that there have been so many studies done at several internationally acclaimed research universities, none of which have any financial or other ties to the online poker industry, and every single one points to the importance of regulation and legalization of online gambling. Still even with so much evidence pointing in the same direction, backwards steps continue to be made that are irresponsible and reckless with American’s rights and safety. Not only is prohibition a violation of the freedoms of responsible adults everywhere, but it also neglects others who need protection as consumers and citizens of this great country. This last action by the state of Washington is just another indication that when courts make decisions without the vote of the people there is a huge possibility of a disparity between what the people want and what the state courts decide on their own. However, this may still be favorable since a rejection opens the door to an appeal in the State Supreme Court, and then possibly at the Federal Supreme Court. This might actually be the most effective step in getting the practice legalized because decisions made at a Federal level usually set up an undisputable precedent for future decisions, and might aide in the ultimate demise of the UIGEA.
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