Roller
258
2010/06/04 02:11
#280035
Manne wrote:
Online poker players plan to rally on the steps of the state Supreme Court Thursday afternoon to protest the law that makes on-line gambling a felony.
Inside, the director of the state's Poker Players Alliance is making his case before the Supreme Court. They're fighting the 2006 state law that makes online poker players felons. Opponents of the law say it makes no sense because it's legal in any poker room across the state, but not online.
What's worse, they say, is it puts online poker plays in the same category as those caught with child porn, or heroin.
"I'm completely appalled," said Lee Rousso, Poker Players Alliance Washington state director. "Of course, I mean, we're regular, salt of the earth citizens we just happen to like to play America's favorite game in the privacy of our own homes and we should be able to do that."
Those rallying on the steps say they should have the freedom to spend their money how they want.
"Everybody in America should have the choice of where to spend their money," said Tom Myers. "That's why we're in America - the reason why I want that choice is because if I want to sit on my couch and spend $100, I should have that right, it's my $100."
It will take the state Supreme Court anywhere from 6-9 months to hand down a ruling, but Rousso says the losing side will likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court because he thinks it's a cutting edge issue across the country
:dirol
Join:
2009/12/06
Messages:
258
The PPA, represented in court by Washington state director Lee Rousso, argued their case based on the federal Commerce Act. Under terms of this act, no state can “pass legislation that discriminates against (any) section of any industry.” Rousso stated that since playing poker and blackjack is legal in online casinos, it should also be legal online. He argued further that no one benefitted from banning online gambling in Washington except for the legal bricks and mortar casinos.
Assistant State Attorney General Jerry Ackerman argued on the other side that online gambling is impossible to regulate and that the Washington government supports tribal casinos in the state because of federal legislation requiring such casinos.
In attendance at the hearing was PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato, a former New York senator, and also speaking for the PPA’s case were PPA Executive Director John Pappas and professional poker player Phil Gordon.
During the hearing and afterward, online poker players rallied outside the Supreme Court in protest. The Washington chapter of the Poker Players Alliance has 20,000 members, despite certain legal pressure on online poker sites in the United States. The PPA thanked the “the turnout of poker players who joined us this morning on the steps of the Supreme Court to support Mr. Rousso’s case” in an official statement.
The PPA went on to claim that a recent poll showed 80% of registered voters in Washington were for legalizing online poker. The organization said that “The PPA looks forward to working with Washington’s state and federal lawmakers, regardless of outcome in this case, to establish effective licensing and regulation of online poker as opposed to criminalizing citizens for playing the game.”
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, the federal law heavily restricting U.S.-based financial institutions in processing payments between casinos and individuals, into full effect on Tuesday. Though American gambling laws exist on the national level, several states are currently exploring in-state Internet gambling.
:dirol