The other shoe drops: Full Tilt bans Washington residents

[The Straight Story]

The other shoe drops: Full Tilt bans Washington residents

Internet poker players in the state of Washington were dealt another blow Friday when Full Tilt Poker announced players from the state will no longer be able to play real-money games on the site.

Seven weeks ago, the state's Supreme Court ruled that a state law making Internet gambling a Class C felony was constitutional. A week later, PokerStars announced it would stop accepting real-money play from Washington residents.

PokerStars and Full Tilt account for the vast majority of Internet poker play in the United States and in the world. According to PokerScout.com, the sites account for more than two-thirds of the Internet poker traffic, with only five other rooms or networks that allow U.S. players averaging more than 500 players at a time over the last seven days.

Full Tilt's policy regarding play from Washington residents varies slightly from PokerStars'. Most notably, PokerStars does not allow residents of the state to play real-money games even when they are travelling outside of the state's borders. Full Tilt, however, allows Washington residents to play real-money games if they are located outside of the state's borders.

http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/the-other-shoe-drops-full-tilt-bans-washington-residents-195563

[gateley]

1. Is it because it takes potential revenue from the casinos in the State? I never

heard about this until now.

[jancantor]

3. It's because of our idiotic legislature and moronic Governor

(you know, the governor behind the kneejerk 4 Loko Ban).

In WA state, it is a C felony to play online poker (for money). A $2 online tournament is a felony. Yet, there are casinos everywhere and the state itself sells lottery tickets. They aren't against gambling. They say it's to protect people (right). It's a combination of nannystatism (I don't care if that word has a libertarian tinge. It's true), a nod to the Indian casinos, and because they can't get any tax revenue out of it.

It's also an arbitrary unenforced law. The head of the Gambling Commission stated publically they didn't intend to ENFORCE it. Of course, it will only be used politically if somebody makes a stink and then publically announces playing. Kind of like how the feds went after Tommy Chong. As of 2 months ago (that was the last time a friend of mine did a legal database check) NOT A SINGLE person has been prosecuted for it.

It's a joke, since tons of people play online poker in WA state. But the law is there - unenforced, arbitrary and draconian. C FELONY. Punching a spouse in the face is a Gross Misdemeanor. Online Poker? C Felony

We are a national laughingstock on this front. Poker Player's Alliance is working on it, but the Nanny is strong in this state.

[jberryhill]

10. And what dumbasses elected them?

[jancantor]

15. Unfortunately, there was not a better alternative

Heck, I would vote for any state legislator or governor IF they stated outright they would work to repeal this law. Well, ALMOST any one.

[marybourg]

2. Cue the violins:

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[tkmorris]

4. You appear to be suffering from an inability to see others viewpoints

If banning online poker doesn't matter to you, that's fine. Being openly derisive of an issue that other people care about however is not. Perhaps you'd like to chime in next time with something a wee bit more civil?

[jancantor]

6. I was quite successful at online poker

(and live tournaments to a lesser extent, since I didn't play them that often due to higher rake, etc.) and thus this law cut out part of my income. This is not a minor law. This is a major infringement on liberty WHEN you consider that WA *allows* gambling and the state even sells lottery tickets (state run gambling). They just ban ONLINE gambling, impose a draconian (c felony) law, and then consciously DO NOT enforce it. I was more worried about my career than the law (a felony would be bad ) so I no longer play online. It is insane to allow poker but ban it ONLINE.

I should also note that poker is arguably not even gambling. It's a game of skill and luck, not merely luck. Good players win. Bad players lose. In the long run. I never had a losing month. I played small ball and a lot of hands, so I minimized variance.

This ban bans ALL online gambling (for money), but was obviously targeted to take out poker players. $2 tournament in your underwear? FELONY.

Thank you for your comments. This is one of the most important pieces of WA legislation for ME, and I will not vote to re-elect anybody who supports this law.

[marybourg]

7. Immediate resort to personal attack is the technique the corporate gambling

interests have used in state after state. Apparently it's now being used by its tools to intimidate those opposed to online gambling. Actually I'm not even particularly opposed - I don't give a "hoot" how you waste your money -_ but I do find the whining pathetic and that's what I was respondng to.

[The Straight Story]

5. Cue the violins for abortions too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9549458

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9549376

Principles - they matter, even if it is something you don't care about or do.

[marybourg]

8. Se my response to your fellow tool, above. nt.

[jberryhill]

9. So let's talk about principles

State regulation of abortion is subject to specific Constitutional limits.

I'm not aware of a Constitutional right to gamble, so can you explain to me whether a state can regulate gambling in it's borders in accordance with the expressed will of the people through their elected legislature.

I don't have a problem with gambling. I do it myself on occasion. But I don't have a problem with state regulation of it either.

Explain the principle here, and what Supreme Court decision you believe applies somehow equally to abortion and gambling. Cite the case if you do.

[The Straight Story]

11. The principle here

is your body, your choice.

Whether it be smoking, gambling, abortion, etc - either you are for that principle or you are not.

And you are not aware of a constitutional right to gamble? How about I am not aware of the right of the federal govt to tell me how to live my life and what to do with my money? And aren't our stock markets a form of gambling? 401k's?

[jberryhill]

14. I guess I was hoping for too much

"Your body, your choice"?

Really?

This is state regulation of an economic activity.

So, thrill me, was the US Supreme Court decision in Minnesota v. Clover Leaf Creamery Co. 449 U.S. 456 one with which you disagree?

Here is the act in question in that case:

"n 1977, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a statute banning the retail sale of milk in plastic nonreturnable, nonrefillable containers, but permitting such sale in other nonreturnable, nonrefillable containers, such as paperboard milk cartons."

You could have made a mint by offering your services as counsel in this case, since the decision goes on and on about regulation of interstate commerce. Geez did everybody in the room miss the point that gambling is not an economic activity.

Check it out:
http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=in%20waco%2020100923000t.xml&docbase=cslwar3-2007-curr

Roe v. Wade was premised on a privacy interest In medical decisionmaking, not some sort of laissez faire capitalism notion under which any party can engage in any form of unregulated financial transaction.

All the people here upset over mortgage and financial markets must be driving you bananas.

[jancantor]

16. It's the hypocrisy

If WA state was a "no gambling state" iow gambling was GENERALLY criminalized, then at least they would be consistent. That's not the case. The fucking state itself SELLS lottery tickets. (personally, I am 100% against any state run gambling. ) There are casinos everywhere. But INTERNET gambling is banned. And not just banned, but a C felony.

The hypocrisy, the inconsistency, and the draconian penalty AND the fact that said draconian penalty are NOT enforced make this law especially bad. If they actually tried to enforce it against the average joe, there would be outcry, and probably jury nullification. The reason the law can stay on the books is that it just sits there waiting.... a threat to all, without being enforced.

[Odin2005]

12. Oh no! the online gamblers might havr to get therapy for their addiction! THE HORROR!!!

Gambling is fucking stupid.

[dbmk]

13. So what if it is?

Some people think gays in the military is stupid.

Is that now our measuring stick?

[AlabamaLibrul]

17. Poker is a game that includes skill (not that you care), you can still play in B&M establishments

(not that you care), and not everyone, from little old ladies with funny hair that play the penny slots, to the pro poker players all over TV making millions of dollars, is a wretched gambling addict who needs an intensive, inpatient program.

Not that you care.