1. I guess we are lucky in Indiana. It's only a class D felony here. Of course they are allowed to have home games there unlike Indiana.

Posted at 3:53PM on May 5th 2006 by Brian

2. There go my thoughts of moving to Washington state when I retire. Unless they manage to repeal that law between now and that not-as-far-off-as-I-wish-it-was time. Too bad, as I like it up there otherwise.

Posted at 6:54PM on May 5th 2006 by Dave Westbay

3. Bummer. A 10¢ rake, and I'm in Walla Walla for years. My analysis of the law is at http://ruleslawyer.blogspot.com/2006/05/will-i-be-felon-next-month.html

Posted at 7:36PM on May 5th 2006 by TravisL

4. Join the club - wineries that want to ship to consumers certain states (MD and PA come to mind) are also as dangerous as sex offenders. Write your represenative! - j

Posted at 10:32PM on May 5th 2006 by El Jefe

5. And here I am moving to Washington state. Guess I'll have to drive up to Canada before firing up the ol' poker client.

Of course it may not matter soon since the US will classify online poker players as terrorists via the wire act.

er... for the record, I have no plans to evade the law by playing poker online from Canada.

Posted at 12:15AM on May 6th 2006 by Alan

6. I really, REALLY hate politicians. These ignorant assholes do nothing but make life worse. I can not name ONE GOOD THING in the last year that politicians have done right. Iraq? Nope, screwed that up. Katrina relief? That's probably best not talked about.

I also love when people say "write your Congressman," as if that ever did anything. If you don't have money, your opinion does not matter. Sorry. It's sad, but true.

I would love it if, over the next six years, no one voted for an incumbent politician. The whole system needs to be refreshed and these jackasses need to be removed. Of course, the super-intelligent American population would probably just put other jackasses in their place, but at least it would be a start.

/rant

Posted at 11:45AM on May 6th 2006 by kaellinn18

7. I live in Washington State and I can tell you it has nothing to do with protecting the public. It has everything to do with supporting legalized gambling, which the state gets a cut of. If you can't play poker at home, you have to go the the casinos. The Native American gambling lobby has become extremely powerful.

Posted at 1:59PM on May 6th 2006 by Greg

8. What a pile of dogcrap. Such a sad event. This is what happens when idiotic politicians let things slide for too long. They should have seen this coming. Now, rather than setting up a system where you can pay taxes from playing poker online, they just decide to take it away all together. Elect this! *middle finger way up in the sky*. I should put that on a posterboard the next time elections come around.

Posted at 2:57PM on May 6th 2006 by Pickkleman

9. Usually I catch the obligue image references,
but what's the deal here with Mary Poppins?

Posted at 6:56PM on May 6th 2006 by the tuc

10. Mary Poppins is a nanny, tuc, so the reference is to the so-called "Nanny State."

Posted at 7:55PM on May 6th 2006 by wil

11. Well I wrote the governor and complained about laws like this being sneaked through without any public consultation. Not that it will do any good, but now she knows what I think.

Anybody up for a petition drive ?

Posted at 11:21PM on May 6th 2006 by terrymr

12. Wow, this story is just unbelievable. I agree that the best move is to write to your representatives, governor, local lobbyists, or whomever else has the power to get things done.

Posted at 6:25PM on May 7th 2006 by panasianbiz

13. I wonder just how they're planning on enforcing this moronic law.

Posted at 10:32PM on May 7th 2006 by Beck

14. Not much we can do on this one for now --- but it may well be the impetus that the "off-shore" gaming interests need to do some serious lobbying here in the U.S. There are some U.S. politicians who believe, as with their Chinese counterparts, that the Internet should be walled and compartmentalized by country. After all, how -dare- those companies take the money of -our- citizens. Them's my tax dollars, say the pols.

Posted at 12:13AM on May 8th 2006 by Haley

15. But here's the part I don't get--if the U.S. would just legalize online gambling sites set up here in the U.S., how much more tax money would the government be raking in? None of these idiotic laws are going to stop online gambling. The love affair most (all?) states have with the lottery is proof enough that their concern does not lie with people (especially people who can't afford it) developing gambling addictions. And it could be a great revenue stream. Other than the interest of reservation casinos, can anyone offer one good reason WHY online gambling is seen as such an evil?

As for Washington, I love that a state independent and liberal enough to authorize medical marijuana (and I'm not arguing the pros/cons of that, just saying that it's not a conservative stance), would be the same state to make online gambling = sex offenses. That would be reason #2 (right after my in-laws) that I won't be moving to WA State.

Posted at 12:24AM on May 10th 2006 by Jen

16. Looks like it's time to join the Libertarians.

Legal poker, drugs, and hookers! Yayyy!

Posted at 12:00PM on May 12th 2006 by clrusso

17. Living in the state of Washington and working in a legal cardroom I can tell you that this was done to make the tribal casinos more money, last year the same state senator that spear headed this bill did the same with another one that tried to raise the tax on revenue on state licenced cardrooms from 11.5% to 20%. She was voted down when cooler heads prevailed that is except in Tacoma where she is from she got the city counsel to pass a law where they would not approve the licence renewel for anyone within the city limits. Margarita Prentice has done nothing but lobby for Tribal gaming in the last 2 years, and it makes me sick.
PS, Oregon and not Washington was the state that legalized medical mary jane.

Posted at 11:51PM on May 18th 2006 by Jasper_C

18. i wrote the three people who i think are my state representatives. though i dont agree with the passage of the law in the first place AT ALL, the most eggregous part is making it a CLASS C FELONY!! how can anyone involved with the passage of this law look me in the eyes with a clear conscience!!!??? fukking retards. i will NEVER AGAIN vote for ANY state official due to the passage of this law, until i can know for certain that they would vote against such inane legislation.

Posted at 1:49PM on May 25th 2006 by k

19. This is the dumbest thing i have ever seen. it's POKER!!! Thanks for taking away something i enjoy doing after the kids go to bed. we all don't have the time to head over to the casion for a couple of hours to get a game. you guys SUCK!!!! why would you do this. theirs alot of people who can't even leave their homes due to illnesses and medical conditions who love sitting around and playing online poker. you punks just want to make a few more bucks. i hope your happy. enjoy your money.

Posted at 12:08PM on Jun 7th 2006 by tom

20. Even luckier here in the UK
Not only is it 100% legal over here - but the government doesn't consider gambling to be a form of revenue so if you win £1M in a torny you can pocket the money but in the US your coming home 333K lighter for the IRS taking their share

Come move to the UK - fine we don't have as much play over here but it's a lot sunnier if you win

Posted at 4:01AM on Jun 19th 2006 by Baud2death