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WA Law: 5 Years in Prison for Gambling Online

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the a-sawbuck-says-you-can't-give-up-gambling dept.

tpoker writes "Online gambling has been an ongoing legal issue for the federal government, but Washington State has recently decided to take matters into their own hands. The Seattle PI reports, 'Beginning next month [June 7th], Washington residents who play poker or make other types of wagers on the Internet will be committing a Class C felony, equivalent under the law to possessing child pornography, threatening the governor or torturing an animal. Although the head of the state Gambling Commission says it is unlikely that individual online gamblers will be targeted for arrest, the new law carries stiff penalties: as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.'"

8 of 535 comments (clear)

  1. In California... by mcpkaaos · · Score: 4, Funny

    possessing child pornography, threatening the governor or torturing an animal

    I'm pretty sure one of those is legal. I just can't remember which.

    --
    It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
  2. Re:Age old problem... by KingSkippus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, Prohibition worked so well keeping people from drinki—

    Wait, I meant that sodomy laws do such a great job of keeping people from being homose—

    Well...

    Um...

    *sticks finger in ears* LALALALALALALALALALALA!!!!!

  3. Re:Might as well kill someone before you gamble. by miskatonic+alumnus · · Score: 4, Funny

    What's that? I thought online poker was equivalent to threatening your children, animal pornography, or torturing the governer.

  4. Re:Might as well kill someone before you gamble. by TenLow · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought it was torturing your children, threatening animals, and governor pornography.

  5. Wanna bet? by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

    Five bucks says they'll never catch me.

  6. What I want to Know Is by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Funny

    What are the odds? If, say, I were a gambling man...

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  7. Re:Place your bets.... by JourneyExpertApe · · Score: 4, Funny
    Bingo!

    I hope you didn't post that from Washington.
    --
    If you can read this sig, you're too close.
  8. Re:Might as well kill someone before you gamble. by thc69 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "governor pornography"? Couldn't you just have given me a goatse or a tubgirl or a lemonparty or some such? Cripes, man, have some decency...

    --
    Procrastination -- because good things come to those who wait.