The state of Washington features a new law that makes gambling online a Class C Felony. People who gamble online will now be faced with the exact same crime as somebody who possesses child pornography. Live in Washington and like to play poker? Doing this is currently an offense which will land you in jail for 5 years. You may also be fined $10,000. Washington is setting a brand new precedence in the legal arena.
For a long time the us government of the United States has tried to pass specific legislation to revise the Federal Wire Wagering Act. The newest attempt is expected to pass the home, but it will likely fail in the Senate. Washington State legislators chose to take matters into their own hands by passing this new law. While there is no contradictory federal law, the Washington State law will face clear sailing.
The legislation does a lot more than ban online gambling. Additionally, it bans discussing online gambling--quite the communist move by legislators. The legislation specifically outlaws the passing of any "gambling information." Furthermore, gambling information is defined as: "information concerning wagers, betting odds and changes in betting odds will probably be presumed to be created for use within professional gambling." Technically, a website that discusses a nationally televised sports game and mentions the "spread" will be in violation of what the law states and at the mercy of penalty.
As expected, legislators are quick to indicate that what the law states wouldn't be properly used against individuals in this way. While that's all warm and fuzzy, the very fact remains that what the law states continues to be on the books. Perhaps a better way to put it's that they don't currently want to put it to use in this way--just wait until they want it. Also, if there was an ounce of truth to those statements, then how will you explain the state statement by Rick Day, the Executive Director for the Washington State Gambling Commission? When asked whether a website simply linking to an on the web gambling destination was in violation he said, "If the site also has an url to a gambling site, then to us that's no different." According to the statement, simply linking to a website can enable you to get faced with a Class C Felony https://194.32.78.99/.
There is further cause for concern here, in relation to just how laws are written and the precedence they set. It's possible other states can look at Washington State's actions and choose to enact something similar. Even although you are against gambling, are you currently also against censorship? Today it's gambling; tomorrow it's something you care about even more.
No comments:
Post a Comment