Online Gambling Appeal Shot Down

March 30, 2009

The courts ruled in favor of the state yesterday, and said that barring online gambling was not unconstitutional. They said that Lee Rousso, and attorney and Washington State Poker Player�s Alliance representative did not have a case against the state.

The Washington State Appeals Court denied his appeal, stating that the state had the right to ban online gambling and that it was not unconstitutional � as Rousso had argued. They said that the state was protecting its citizens from online gambling and that there was a �relatively small cost imposed on out of state businesses� and that Rousso had not proved his case.

The court rejected several of the state�s arguments as well, which leads many to believe that Rousso will appeal to the state Supreme Court. Rousso has been arguing that the Gambling Act was unconstitutional, and that it was protectionist and that they discriminated against out of state online gambling companies. The act also made online gambling a Class C felony instead of the misdemeanor that it was before.

The new law replaced the old Gambling Act that was from the �70�s � and the new was took over in 2006. Since that time the opposition to the bill has been working to figure out a way to get it overturned, even though no one as of yet has been prosecuted under the law.

The ruling from the court was unanimous, but that doesn�t necessarily mean anything. It does mean that Rousso is done with this leg of the case, but it does not mean that he cannot pursue this further which many believe that he will.

 

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