Washington State Keeps Draconian Penalties

Representative Paul Harris announced that his amendment to a 2006 Washington state law that makes internet gambling a C-class felony with similar penalties to those imposed for very serious criminal offences, had died in committee. Harris proposed reducing the severity of the offence to a civil infraction carrying a $50 fine, but after two days of hearings it was turned down by the House Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight. Although some legislators thought that the amendment should go further, completely decriminalising online gambling in the state, it appears these more progressive lawmakers were in minority. Strongly supporting Harris, the Poker Players Alliance said his proposal laid the groundwork for another and more extensive attempt to be made in 2014, whilst Harris said the road was still open for a further attempt in a year's time, suggesting that online poker would at some stage in the future be legalised in the state. The committee members had "...some concerns on clarity and requested a few minor fixes, but due to the short amount of time before cut-off we will have to wait until next year's short session to get this passed,” concluded Harris.