The online gambling ban imposed on June 7 in a Washington state law
signed off by Governor Christine Gregoire has been taking media flak
throughout the week. The mainstream media is clearly not happy with
the idea that online gambling and advertising for online gambling
is banned, whilst citizens are actively encouraged to gamble in that
state's various Indian land based casinos, state lotteries and on
horseracing online.
The harsh provisions of the new law make it a felony with the same
punishmentas that reserved for child molesters, second offense drunk
drivers and drug dealers.
Successful ACLU actions in New Mexico, which attempted unsuccessfully
to block its citizens from accessing online gambling websites via
internet service providers could set the scene for more action than
Gregoire bargained for, according to some industry observers.
Typical of media criticism on the new law was an editorial in the
Seattle Post Intelligencer, which opined: "Washington legislators
would do well to retool their new Internet gambling law before the
courts do it for them."
Legal opinion has also been divided (see earlier InfoPowa reports)
on the provisions in the law that make it a felony for anyone who
"....knowingly transmits or receives gambling information"
online." This is seen by many as way too broad a prohibition.
Other critics have speculated that the state's real purpose is not
to protect its citizens from *some* parts of online gambling but not
others, but rather lies in shielding its own state revenue-raising
games, such as the lottery, or in protecting vested interests such
as the home-grown tribal gambling industry and the influential horseracing
sector.
A survey conducted by a Seattle newspaper showed that nearly 78 percent
of respondents believe Washington State should not outlaw online gambling.