Online poker in Washington state has been a hot topic lately, and many people have been wondering about the ban and how the state can make the online poker a felony equal to that of child pornography or arson.
A law suit has even gone as far as to challenge the ban, though it has proven unsuccessful in changing anything. The lawsuit has set groundwork for a change, however, and the Poker players Alliance has even stepped into the fray.
The state’s ability to place a ban on online poker was made possible by the court hearing between iMEGA and a panel of judges. In the hearing, iMEGA challenged the constitutionality of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The panel of judges decided that states would have the right to decide on whether or not to legalize or illegalize online gambling.
Washington State has become one of the first states to actually enforce the ban, while New Jersey is on the way to legalizing and regulating intrastate online gambling.
So far, two of the major poker rooms that accept American residents have pulled out of the Washington market. Full Tilt and PokerStars are no longer available. Lobbyists and the Poker Players Alliance are working toward having the law overturned.