RedFalcon 0 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 23, 2007 In-home recreational internet gaming shouldn’t be a felony, says Strow10th District legislator introduces bill to provide an affirmative defense to the Class C Felony created by 2006 internet gambling billRep. Chris Strow, R-Whidbey Island, today announced his legislation, House Bill 1243, to quash the felony charge language in last year’s legislation addressing in-home internet gambling.“My goal with this legislation is to correct an element from last year’s online gambling bill, Senate Bill 6613, that made it a Class C Felony to gamble recreationally in one’s own home if it is done online,” said Strow.“While I do see the need for protecting our citizens from online gaming that may be scamming innocent victims, I do think that there is also a level of accountability, as an adult, to do as he or she chooses in his or her own home,” said Strow. “Most certainly choosing to gamble, or play a game of skill such as poker, should not have been made a crime equivalent to possessing child pornography or threatening the Governor.”House Bill 1243 is currently awaiting a hearing in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.“While I have requested a hearing on the bill, people need to call and write the Chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, Representative Steve Conway, and ask him to schedule a hearing for House Bill 1243,” said Strow. Rep. Conway can be reached at (360) 786-7906 or Conway.steve@leg.wa.gov.“There’s a certain point at which policy can be perceived as ‘nanny stateish.’ I think we reached that point with last year’s legislation and I’m aiming to make amends,” said Strow. If you live in WA, please contact your representatives about this bill. You can find your legislator here:http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRichey 1 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Finally, somebody with some balls. Link to post Share on other sites
Highlow16 0 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I like posts that have some hope instead of threads about the sky falling +1 Link to post Share on other sites
Head_Trauma 0 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I noticed this too. Thank god there is a politician in this state that is not severely retarded. Emailed Mr. Conway a week ago asking him to take action on said bill. No response so far... Link to post Share on other sites
vvganeshavv 4 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 now if more politicians followed suit....maybe i could withdraw/deposit some money... Link to post Share on other sites
Yoda 1 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 In other words, this guy plays online poker Link to post Share on other sites
Flushgarden 0 Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Notice the guy has an "R" in front of his name. Nice. He represents the true spirit of what the party was and should be still.And I know there are a lot of guys in the US congress that play poker and know its a game of skill...but they dont have the balls to step up and say so because they're afraid they wont get the old lady vote. Link to post Share on other sites
TwoFourOffsuit 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Pretty much all of WA's anti-gaming legislation, the online ban, the current bill to ban anyone from opening new cardrooms in WA, has been authored by State Senator Margarita Prentice, who has strong ties with tribal gaming.Think about that. Link to post Share on other sites
crazyIvan 0 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Not that it really matters, but this bill will simply provide for an affirmative defense against the felony charges. That means the gov. must prove you were gambling on-line for purposes other than individual entertainment. However, that doesn't preclude them from arresting and charging you with a felony. It simply paves the way for that felony charge to get dropped or you get acquitted.Personally, I'd rather not have a felony charge on my record, even if acquitted or charges dropped. This bill helps, and perhaps will keep them from persuing the "typical" citizen, but doesn't preclude it. Link to post Share on other sites
TheMathProf 0 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Pretty much all of WA's anti-gaming legislation, the online ban, the current bill to ban anyone from opening new cardrooms in WA, has been authored by State Senator Margarita Prentice, who has strong ties with tribal gaming.Think about that.Speaking of which, this one against house-banked card rooms, and has already made it to committee:Senate Bill to limit house-banked card roomsHouse Bill to limit house-banked card rooms[EDITS on Friday, February 9, 2007: (1) URL's adjusted to provide proper links, both to the Senate and House versions. (2) Note the sponsor of the House Bill. It's Steve Conway, who is the chairman of the committee that we would need to persuade to allow the Strow Bill to get a hearing even. I don't think this is good news.] Link to post Share on other sites
TwoFourOffsuit 0 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 A couple friends of mine have written their state reps about that bill, and I quickly followed suit. We've gotta try and open some dialogue on this, in each of our respective states and countries. I don't think the legislators who vote this stuff in without a second thought realize what they're doing. Link to post Share on other sites
thecartel 0 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 It's definitely nice to see some good news. My father lives in WA I will let him know about this. Link to post Share on other sites
Tiltinagain 973 Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Not that it really matters, but this bill will simply provide for an affirmative defense against the felony charges. That means the gov. must prove you were gambling on-line for purposes other than individual entertainment. However, that doesn't preclude them from arresting and charging you with a felony. It simply paves the way for that felony charge to get dropped or you get acquitted.Personally, I'd rather not have a felony charge on my record, even if acquitted or charges dropped. This bill helps, and perhaps will keep them from persuing the "typical" citizen, but doesn't preclude it.Party pooper.The fact that they are talking about softening the blow from the earlier legislation at all is a step in the right direction. You've got to start somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites
crazyIvan 0 Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Party pooper.The fact that they are talking about softening the blow from the earlier legislation at all is a step in the right direction. You've got to start somewhere.Sorry. I am very excited about this. It does show a movement in the right direction. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew what the bill really did. Link to post Share on other sites
crazyIvan 0 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Another bill has been introduced that reported got a hearing. See it hereThis one would reduce the charge for playing poker on-line from a felony to a misdemeanor. However, that still keeps it illegal. I would prefer that HB 1243 get passed that at least gives one the ability to beat the rap, instead of just paying a fine for playing. This state is so full of nanny laws that I'm seriously considering moving. Link to post Share on other sites
asytnik 0 Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 now if more politicians followed suit....maybe i could withdraw/deposit some money...There are numerous ways around this obviously. Giftcards.com is one option. Wallgreens gift2go cards are yet another option, but a little more expensive. Depending on the site your cashing out with, checks are a good option(Stars is super fast with checks). I think our biggest concerns are:1. How do donkeys deposit money? 2. How do we cash out effectively? Link to post Share on other sites
TheMathProf 0 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 That bill apparently got a hearing.While the discussion regarded HB 2127, Strow presented some thoughts with the committee. Strow was asked regarding whether he thought a gross misdemeanor was too harsh a penalty, and responded that he thought that even a misdemeanor was too harsh.Strow indicated a willingness to do a rewrite, with info regarding the rewrite below:The rewrite is apparently HB2320, which made it past a first hearing that would make recreational online gambling a gross misdemeanor (instead of a felony). The vote was 5-3 in favor, and was scheduled for a second hearing on the 28th.Check the approximately 36 minute mark here:http://www.tvw.org/MediaPlayer/Archived/WM...1360&TYPE=Afor audio on the rolecall.Check http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.as...=2007#documents to follow this bill.This is the substitute bill, not the original bill which did not have the "gross misdemeanor" penalty, but the "misdemeanor" penalty instead.A basic summary of the audio is here:http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08...se/2320.HBR.pdf Link to post Share on other sites
Seattleallstar 0 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 who cares now, just go to Muck or Tulalip. Link to post Share on other sites
Head_Trauma 0 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Thanks for the updates MathProf Link to post Share on other sites
Head_Trauma 0 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 who cares now, just go to Muck or Tulalip.I care Link to post Share on other sites
TheMathProf 0 Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 who cares now, just go to Muck or Tulalip.Because every casino is more than a 30 minute drive from my house.Because I can't afford the variance that even a 3/6 game provides.Because as a microlimit player, I enjoyed playing poker for stakes that were relatively insignificant.Because it's none of the state's damned business how I spend my money.Because the state legislature still has it wrong when it comes to how this particular legislation should go.Among others. Link to post Share on other sites
Seattleallstar 0 Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Because every casino is more than a 30 minute drive from my house.Because I can't afford the variance that even a 3/6 game provides.Because as a microlimit player, I enjoyed playing poker for stakes that were relatively insignificant.Because it's none of the state's damned business how I spend my money.Because the state legislature still has it wrong when it comes to how this particular legislation should go.Among others.I did too, but I don't have the power to change anything. Link to post Share on other sites
crazyIvan 0 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 who cares now, just go to Muck or Tulalip.you are wrong. Do you see why?Good Luck. Link to post Share on other sites
Head_Trauma 0 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Have you guys seen this new commercial by the Washington State somethin or other against youth gambling? It is so terrible. If they wanna talk about youth degenerates, don't show them playing poker. What a crock of ****. The ad shows a bunch of kids with chips and $5 and $1 bills in front of them around a table playing poker while the announcer talks about these kids being more likely to drink, fight, smoke crack, kill hookers, etc. Is some high school home game for a $20 buy in really what our society needs to crack down on? Jesus, who came up with the idea that playing poker in a home game = problem gambling? ****in morons.Heres a link: http://www.notagame.org/ (at the bottom of the main page is a link to the tv spot) Link to post Share on other sites
Head_Trauma 0 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 That sh*t got me all worked up so I sent them some feedback on their site."Why does your TV spot show a young group of poker players playing a home game? Are you kidding me? You imply that a group of friends who have a Friday night poker game are somehow doing something wrong or are going to turn to drugs and violence. That is preposterous. Why does your ad talk about "problem gambling" and not show anything related to problem gambling?? Stop talking about booze and drugs while some kids have fun playing an American pasttime. What a ridiculous ad. Poker is not gambling, it is a game of both skill and luck in which skilled players can make money in the long run. Unfortunately, your ad shows some kids having a good time. What were you people thinking?" Link to post Share on other sites
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