Can Online Gambling Be Legalised
In The Usa?
Washington State Rep. Chris Strow and
his House Bill 1243 seem to think so....if it's in the privacy of
your home
Washington State has earned the unenviable reputation of chasing
and punishing online gamblers with more energy than that reserved
for child molesters, but not all legislators in the state have closed
minds and hypocritical attitudes toward a pastime they have made
a felony for their citizens.
Mid-January a bill was submitted with the objective of excluding
Internet gambling played from a person's home from being regarded
as a felony. This also includes online poker.
Under the state's harsh 2006 internet gambling law, any online gambling
currently conducted in the state is a Class C Felony, which is the
same penalty for possessing child pornography.
Washington State Rep. Chris Strow, R-Whidbey Island, intends to
change that and has introduced House Bill 1243 to correct what he
considers an inappropriately brutal penalty for an activity responsible
adults should be allowed to do in the privacy of their home should
they so wish.
"While I do see the need for protecting our citizens from online
gaming that may be scamming innocent victims, I do think that there
is also a level of accountability, as an adult, to do as he or she
chooses in his or her own home," said Strow.
He added, "Most certainly choosing to gamble, or play a game
of skill such as poker, should not have been made a crime equivalent
to possessing child pornography or threatening the Governor."
Other sponsors of the bill include Representatives Kirby, B. Sullivan,
Simpson, and Appleton. House Bill 1243 is currently awaiting a hearing
in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
Strow made a plea for state residents to call and write to the Chairman
of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, Representative Steve
Conway, to ask him to schedule a hearing for House Bill 1243.
__________________
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how
close they were to success when they gave up"
