The state of Washington features a new law that makes gambling online a Class C Felony. People who gamble online will now be faced with exactly the same crime as an individual who possesses child pornography. Are now living in Washington and prefer to play poker? Doing this is now an offense which will land you in jail for 5 years. You can also be fined $10,000. Washington is setting a fresh precedence in the legal arena.
For decades the federal government of the United States has tried to pass specific legislation to revise the Federal Wire Wagering Act. The most recent attempt is anticipated to pass the house, however it will in all probability fail in the Senate. Washington State legislators decided to take matters within their own hands by passing this new law. While there is no contradictory federal law, the Washington State law will face clear sailing.
The legislation does a lot more than ban online gambling. In addition, it bans referring to online gambling--quite the communist move by legislators. The legislation specifically outlaws the passing of any "gambling information." Furthermore, gambling information is defined as: "information regarding wagers, betting odds and changes in betting odds will be presumed to be created for use within professional gambling." Technically, a web log that discusses a nationally televised sports game and mentions the "spread" would be in violation of the law and susceptible to penalty.
As expected, legislators are quick to indicate that the law would not be properly used against individuals in this way. While that's all warm and fuzzy, the fact remains that the law continues to be on the books. Perhaps an improved way to place it's that they don't really currently want to use it in this way--just wait until they need it. Also, if there is an ounce of truth to those statements, then how do you explain the state statement by Rick Day, the Executive Director for the Washington State Gambling Commission? When asked if a website simply linking to an online gambling destination was in violation he said, "If the website even offers an url to a gambling site, then to us that's no different." According to the statement, simply linking to a website can allow you to get faced with a Class C Felony.
There is further cause for concern here, in regards to the way in which laws are written and the precedence they set. It's possible other states will look at Washington State's actions and opt to enact something similar. Even although you are against gambling, are you currently also against censorship? Today it's gambling; tomorrow it's something you worry about even more https://194.32.78.99/.
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