On Thursday, the PPA is organizing a rally outside of the Washington state capitol building.  The purpose is to protest the state’s harsh anti-online poker law.  If you’re in the area, or want to fly in for it (the PPA is covering much of the cost, include hotels), stop on by.  I’m sure your support will greatly welcomed.

Washington has one of the strictest online poker statutes in the nation.  It’s a class C FELONY to play online poker in Washington.  A felony!  So, a while back, FTP and PS made the prudent business decisions to suspend their sites in that state.  Recently, two more poker sites — VIP Sports and Matchbook.com — made the same decision.  Frankly, the only shocking part of this story is that sites still operated in Washington after the state’s high Court upheld the law.  If you are one of the “unlucky” people that still had money deposited in either of those sites and reside in Washington, you have no one to blame but yourself.  Though part of me does feel your pain.

Given Washington’s strict anti-online poker law and recent Supreme Court ruling upholding it, it was only a matter of time before the hammer started to fall.  Well, it’s fallen.  Forbes reports that approximately $8 million has been seized by the federal government in an effort to curb poker-related payment processors.  You don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict this is not the end of enforcement measures in Washington.

As every poker-playing Seattle resident knows, it is a felony(!) to play online poker in Washington state.  An intrepid man named Lee Russo has been engaged in a multi-year war to end this injustice.  He has not been successful, including a recent loss at the Washington Supreme Court (which is the highest court in the state).  After what he and the PPA call “long and careful consideration,” he has decided not to appeal further.  This marks the end of any short-term hope of overturning the law through the judicial branch.  Can’t fault the guy.  His next “best” option was to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.  And his chances of having that appeal heard, let alone winning, are about as good as sucking out for that inside straight-flush against quads by hoping there’s a misdeal and that exposed card needs to be reshuffled back into the deck.  Basically, they are not good.  At least Washington has live poker.  More than can be said for some states.  (New York comes to mind…)

So much for the short-lived optimism (of some) surrounding the possibility of Senator Reid proposing online poker legislation.  Sen. Reid announced today that he will not be offering legislation to legalize online poker during the lame duck session of Congress.  The worst part for poker enthusiasts is that many of poker’s Congressional opponents, such as Spencer Bachus of the Financial Services Committee, Dave Camp of the Ways and Means Committee, and Lamar Smith of the Judiciary Committee, are the ranking members of those respective committees.  That means they will be those committee’s chairs next year, and in prime position to blunt any attempt to repeal the UIGEA.  You may go back to bashing Congress now.

Hot on the heels of Washington’s high court rendering a ruling potentially devastating to online poker, federal agents have moved to seize approximately $553,000 from a payment processor for moneys distributed to Washington residents.  The government’s complaint states that the money is related to “illegal gambling” and “constitutes a violation of [anti-]money laundering provisions.”  Not good.

Hot on the heels of PokerStars’ withdrawal from Washington after the state’s Supreme Court confirmed its ban on online poker, Full Tilt has announced that it too is considering prohibiting Washington residents from playing on its site.  If FTP withdraws it will be yet another body blow to Washington residents and visitors, and online poker generally.  Perhaps I should not say if, but when.  Withdrawing is the prudent move for Full Tilt, and, frankly, one that could potentially safeguard the site at large for players from other locations.

PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, has banned all real money play from residents of and visitors to the State of Washington.  PokerStar’s complete statement and a little more color is included in Cardplayer.com’s description of this major development.  The gist of PokerStars’ reasoning is that in light of the recent Washington Supreme Court ruling, it is clear that the state criminalizes online poker and, more to the point, that the questionable legality of the issue no longer is in doubt.  At least to the level that PokerStars feels comfortable taking the risk.  (Another factor in the site’s thinking likely is the potential that the U.S. will legalize online poker in the next few years, and the rumor that sites that operated illegally prior to that time will be banned.) 

Clearly, I disagree with the decision by Washington.  However, I do not disagree with PokerStar’s decision.  While tragic for Washington residents and anyone considering a move to Seattle to rekindle grunge, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for a mega company like PokerStars.  The revenue from Washington, I assume, is a drop in the bucket of its overall U.S. revenues.  To risk significant civil — and criminal — penalties to earn that revenue (which may decrease anyway as a result of the effect of the law on the average player) would be foolish from a business standpoint.  Have no doubt, PokerStars is a company concerned primarily with its bottom line; it has no grander moral agenda. 

If you’re sitting at home in Olympia waking up and reading this for the first time, sorry.  But at least take solace in the knowledge that your money is safe (you still can withdraw funds) and if you ever decide to move from your parents’ home to another state you’ll be free to continue playing (just need to prove a change of residence to that new state). 

And if you have a friend who lives in Washington, do not pm him for a heads-up game on Stars.  That’s just cruel.

Washington’s Supreme Court has upheld the state’s ban on internet gambling, which is one of the strictest in the U.S., if not the strictest.  The unanimous decision found that the law did not violate the U.S. Constitution.  So if you’re looking to live somewhere beautiful and play online poker, chalk that region of the Pacific northwest off your list.  (Oh, ironically, Washington does allow brick and mortar poker.  Just saying…)

As you probably know, a while back the great state of Washington made it a crime to play online poker.  (Aren’t you glad you didn’t follow your heart and move to Seattle after watching Singles and listening to Ten for the fortieth time?  Did I date myself with those references?)  Anyway, at a recent hearing before the state’s high court, Sen. D’Amato, now chairman of the PPA, made a statement noting, in part, that the law is to protect tribal and casino interests.  And not to protect Washington citizen’s interests — in fact, 80% of Washingtonians oppose the law.  Check out the PPA’s statement.