Washington Delays Fixing 'Insane' Web Poker Law

You can still go to prison for simply playing online poker in the state of Washington.

Lawmakers there held a 50-minute hearing last week on a bill that would have decriminalized “recreational” play from the comfort of one’s home. However, the measure failed to advance after many questions surfaced on its potential ramifications and overall clarity.

An ‘insane’ law on the books, as some officials described it, allows the state to charge Internet poker players with a felony. The new proposal called for making it a civil infraction punishable by a fine up to $50. In other words, just like a traffic violation, but still illegal.

During the hearing in front of the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, state Rep. Paul Harris, one of the sponsors of the measure, said that although no person has ever been arrested for playing online poker, the law needs to be changed.

In response to a question on the need to fix the law if it hasn’t yet been a problem, Harris said doing so “could have better [long-term] ramifications for the state.” He wants to eventually legalize online poker in Washington and said that his bill is a “first step.”

The hearing, which also hit on arguments that poker is a game of skill, felt like a precursor to more serious discussions that could one day actually authorize firms to offer games to state residents. That would be a complete reversal for Washington, but with other states moving to regulate the industry, the Evergreen State might feel forced to eventually make decisions.

However, for now, some in the state just want to make a good policy decision on a 2006 law that another lawmaker described last week as a “dumb idea at the time.” Harris admitted that he maybe should have gone for the “full step” and aimed for doing away with any sort of penalty for web poker play, but he testified that legislative changes happen gradually.

According to the Poker Players Alliance, a Washington D.C.-based poker advocacy group, Harris said he will try to push the bill again next year.

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