Read the law (S-6613) as passed.
It is really just an amendment to a previous poorly written law (RCW 9.46.240 and 1991 c 261 s 9) that states:
"Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not apply to such information transmitted or received or equipment installed or maintained relating to activities authorized by this chapter or to any act or acts in furtherance thereof when conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto."
The new law (S-6613), on Page 1, Lines 17 & 18 added some words (in bold and underlined below):
"Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not apply to such information transmitted or received or equipment installed or maintained relating to activities authorized by this chapter or to any act or acts in furtherance thereof when conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto."
So basically, they are saying that blogging about playing online poker, or talking about it on the phone, or discussing it on the radio, or printing a column in the paper about online poker strategy is illegal.
The consensus is that the State of Washington is going to do much about this. Unfortunately, the consensus is wrong.
According to this column in the Seattle Times on June 15th, the State of Washington has already indirectly forced the taking down of a website that they didn't like, IntegrityCasinoGuide.com owned by a man named Todd Buotte. In an article in the Bellingham Herald state officials called his website out as illegal. I am looking for a copy of that article to verify what exactly was in it.
The Seattle Times column also mentioned that the state is intending to hire an investigator to enforce the new law. (No mention if they are going to call him SS.)
I believe the State of Washington is serious about the matter. The other major change in the law is to raise the maximum penalty from a gross misdemeanor (county jail, max. 1 year and $5000 fine) to a Class C Felony (state correctional facility, max. 5 years and $10,000).
Why do I believe they are serious about it? What other laws are considered Class C felonies? To name a few: Possession of depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, child molestation, rape, perjury, unlawful imprisonment, and assault.
See what I mean? Bad Law.
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