Online poker has champion in Olympia
Feb 19, 2013, 6:54 AM | Updated: 10:31 am
State Representative Paul Harris said the harsh punishment for a recreational and fun activity is ridiculous. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
People playing online poker in Washington are risking five years in prison and a $10,000 fine under current law, but one state lawmaker believes it’s time to make online gambling legal again.
The state made online gambling a Class C felony in 2006, hanging that huge prison term over the head of thousands of players in the state. The law was challenged but upheld by the state supreme court in 2010, and no one has ever been prosecuted under this law.
State Representative Paul Harris said the harsh punishment for a recreational and fun activity is ridiculous. He’s sponsoring a bill that would make the punishment for online gambling a $50 fine, with a long-term goal of making online gambling legal again.
“It’s another one of these laws that we have on the books that we definitely need to change,” said Rep. Harris. “A Class C felony would impact somebody for life. It’s crazy. We need to fix that for sure.”
Harris wasn’t an online gambler before the current law was passed, but one of his legislative aides was. That’s why he’s championing this cause.
“If we have people who want to play poker online, I wish I could take the whole step and get it legalized, but it’s going to take some time,” he said. “Let’s at least do the first legislation and get rid of the crazy infraction.”
Lee Rousso is a very good poker player. He is a very good online poker player. He’s also an attorney. He’s the man who sued the state over this law and lost.
He’s happy to see someone taking on this issue, though he wishes the legislature would simply legalize online gambling again.
“I just think they should leave the player out of it entirely, and I think even the civil infraction is too much, but it’s such a step in the right direction,” he said.
Rousso believes it’s only a matter of time before the state’s look to cash in by sponsoring and regulating online gambling just like they do with the lottery.
“Within a couple of years, it will start networking between the states just like the way the lottery is networking between the states,” he said. “Legal internet poker that people can enjoy and people feel safe playing really is just around the corner.”
Harris also sees potential dollar signs for the state. He believes Washington could make up to $500 million a year if it got into the online gambling business.
