Archive for online gambling laws
22 July, 2008 | No comments
Legalizing Online Gambling: What Will it Take?
Online gambling is not illegal in the U.S. unless you’re in specific states like Washington and Texas. Most of the country does not have a law that makes online gambling illegal for players. The Unlawful Internet Gaming Act made it illegal for banks, both online and traditional, to do business with online casinos that allow American action. The players are not breaking the law, the banks are.
To turn these laws around it would take one thing: The Democrats need to win the next election. It won’t happen overnight, but the new government is sure to repeal the laws that have slowed down the expansion of online gambling in the U.S.
President Obama would have to pass it through Congress, but Congress is predominantly Democratic now, so he should have no problem passing it. And we know how the Democratic Party feels about their citizens having the freedom of choice.
28 May, 2008 | No comments
Judge Upholds Washington Online Poker Law
Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts has upheld Washington’s online poker law which makes playing poker online a class C felony. Players could face penalties equal to those handed out to child molesters and repeat intoxicated drivers.
Attorney Lee Rouso argued that the 2006 law violates the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause, and is cruel and unusual punishment. “That’s just the way the game is played, the court of law is probably the biggest casino there is,” said Rouso. “There is virtually no public support for this law.” Rouso also said that most of the legislators who passed this bill were unaware of what they were doing at the time.
About 70 poker players, including members of the PPA (Poker Players Alliance), were on hand outside the courtroom to hear the disappointing news. So now the next step is the U.S. Supreme Court, which will hopefully see through the hypocrisy of this law and change it.