Washington State, notorious for being the most online player-hostile state in the union for its draconian laws against online gambling, may be offered an antidote to its poisonous legislation following the introduction of an online poker legalisation bill by Representative Sherry Appleton, a Democrat from the 23rd District.
Online players in Washington are treated as felons, despite the state offering an almost complete array of land gambling options both tribal and commercial.
Rep. Appleton, urged on by Curtis Woodard of the Washington Internet Poker Initiative, wants to reverse that situation – at least as far as online poker is concerned – with her new bill HB1114.
Woodward has been a tireless campaigner for a more reasonable approach to online poker in the state, and has been critical of current laws, which he has characterised as hypocritical, ineffective and plain silly.
Rep. Appleton has likewise been consistent and determined to make changes, and the new bill is her latest contribution to the fight.
HB1114 recognises the authority and experience of the Washington State Gambling Commission, which it positions at the centre of the licensing and regulatory regime it proposes.
The bill seeks only the legalisation of online poker, has none of the protectionist “bad actor” clauses so beloved of many state legislators, and leaves the framing of regulations and the amount of taxation and licensing fees to the state Gambling Commission.
The benefit of such an open-minded piece of legislation is that it enables online poker players to pursue their passion without fear of prosecution in a commercial environment where operators must compete against each other, creating the possibility of better offers, more efficiency and respect for the player.
And of course it creates the potential for new tax revenues for the state.
See the full proposal here:
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1114.pdf