How to fight the WA internet poker law

[FBGHooper]

He is what I sent to Representative Buys (R - 42nd district) tonight.

Representative Buys,

I want to take the time to say thank you for allowing me to tell you my story today. I also wished to reiterate the points from our phone conversation.

* I'm a 13 year father. I'm a 17 year husband. I'm an 18 year high school mathematics teacher at Meridian High School in Bellingham. According to Washington state law I'm a class C felon.

* Poker is a skill based game and should not be a crime. RCW 9.46.240 is a bad law.

* RCW 9.46.240 is in direct conflict with the Dormant Commerce Claus of the U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3). The current law in Washington state prohibits me from engaging parties outside of the state of Washington and the U.S. while protecting the Indian casinos in Washington state from competition.

* The current purveyors of online poker (Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker, etc.) run legitimate businesses. They provide a safe and fair arena for poker players. I have mountains of data proving this is true, and can provide further evidence that necessary steps are taken to prohibit minors from having access to online poker.

* Poker is not gambling like craps and slot machines. Again, poker is a game of skill. It is more appropriate to compare poker to a game like chess.

* Poker purveyors want to be taxed and regulated like any other legitimate business. As a poker player I am willing to pay a fair share of my winnings to both the U.S. and Washington state governments. In a time of budgetary need like we now face, how can we deny that this should be a source of income for the state of Washington?

In closing I wanted to mention something that Representative Overstreet said to me today. "The problem is your using logic and reason in trying to understand why this law exists". I understand what he meant, and quite frankly I appreciate his candor and honesty. Government isn't always about logic and reason. Often it becomes more about emotional responses and special interests. I believe in our government. I believe we can make a change for the better. I will soldier onward in the fight for the rights of poker players here in Washington state.

The Poker Players Association (PPA) is organizing a poker lobbying day on March 17th. I'm hopeful that we will get a chance to meet that day in Olympia.

Thank you again.
--
##### #####

This sums up most of what I shared today. I felt like I spent most of my time on the phone today talking about how I ended up as a profitable poker player. I also pushed the line "game of skill" a lot.

I asked each of them for advice on how I should move forward. Representative Buys
told me I was doing the right thing in sharing my personal story instead of just complaining about the existing law. He told me I should make as many phone and email contacts as I can. I willing to start calling legislators from outside my district.

Overall, I'm enthused and ready to take further action. If there was one person from every voting district across the state that had a similar conversation like the three I had today I think we're well on our way to getting rid of this law.

[125Lute]

Originally Posted by FBGHooper

I'm in, but where did you send this reply? If there was contact information in that post above that I missed I'm going to feel a bit foolish.

reply with your name, number, and location to this email

drew@theppa.org

[FBGHooper]

Originally Posted by 125Lute

reply with your name, number, and location to this email

drew@theppa.org

Thanks.

[FBGHooper]

FWIW, I think I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder because I was on my phone so much today.

Sigh. I miss capping the turn and river knowing my full house has just crushed a drawn flush.

[Skallagrim]

Great work FBGHooper!

I think if WA had even only one like FBG in each district, we'd be more than 1/2 way home to getting this law changed.

Thanks for your efforts, and thanks for posting this information so other WA players will (hopefully) be inspired and informed on how to take individual action.

Skallagrim

[coug2828]

Got an email from the PPA about a rally in Olympia in March, I'll be attending and hopefully will get some others to join me. A good turnout would be excellent.(email below)

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is organizing a “Poker Lobbying Day” in Olympia on March 17th and we need your support. As you know, the state legislature passed a law making it a Class C Felony to play online poker in Washington State. The State Supreme Court late last year upheld the legislature’s authority to pass laws even if they are ill-conceived, unenforceable and against the will of the people. It is imperative as dedicated poker players that we do all that is within our power to repeal this law.


Your elected official, Sen. Jeanne E. Kohl-Welles is a member of the State Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee and it is critical that he/she hear from constituents about repealing this law. As one of PPA’s top activists in Washington, your support has been vital to our mission to repeal this outrageous prohibition on playing online poker, and we seek your further support. Please respond to this email no later than Friday, February 18th if you can meet in person with your state legislators on March 17th in Olympia. Please include your hometown and contact phone number.


The PPA will be providing hotel accommodations, provide for your meals on March 17th and will assist members on a case by case basis with travel expenses to and from Olympia. The PPA will make all the meeting arrangements for you to meet one-on-one with your state legislators. Members will be briefed on the issues and provided talking points and handouts for your meetings.


Date: March 17, 2011
Place: State Capitol; Olympia, Washington
Required Information: Name, contact phone number and hometown


Watch your inbox for further details and updates on the “Poker Lobbying Day” March 17th at the state capitol in Olympia. We look forward to your prompt response.


Proud to play,


Drew Lesofski
Director, Grassroots and External Affairs

[TikiStyles]

Dear Mr. Medsker:

Thank you for taking the time to reach me.

I recognize that online poker has become a hot topic in recent months in part due to the recent Supreme Court decision. I'm afraid that with the committee deadline in two days, I do not have the opportunity to prime sponsor a bill to legalize online poker in our state. It is an intriguing idea for a revenue source as well as giving options to online gamers such as yourself.

I will keep your concerns in mind if this issue does come before me this session.

Thanks once again for taking the time to contact me.

Best wishes to us all,

Representative Cindy Ryu
32nd Legislative District, Position #1
House Democratic Caucus Assistant Whip serving on:
Transportation, Community Development & Housing, Business & Financial Services, and Rules Committees

Well I been mailing and mailing and mailing all my reps and this is the best response I have gotten. Its not great, but I think we are finally getting through! Keep on them we have the right to play and it seems like the best route to take is telling them we want to be taxed on our winnings. Our states budget is out of control and this could be a hotfix and a win win for both sides.

[LetsGambool]

So does that mean we dont have a bill this year?

[johncan]

Originally Posted by LetsGambool

So does that mean we dont have a bill this year?

Does not look that way and from what it looks like with the Olympia meet in March they are not planning to do an initiative in 2012. LOL

Guess I called it right.

[LetsGambool]

Well, lets wait a couple of more days. They could have a legislator ready to bring this out.

[johncan]

Originally Posted by LetsGambool

Well, lets wait a couple of more days. They could have a legislator ready to bring this out.

[TheEngineer]

Originally Posted by johncan

Does not look that way and from what it looks like with the Olympia meet in March they are not planning to do an initiative in 2012. LOL

Guess I called it right.

Why do you want to lose an initiative so badly?

[TheEngineer]

Originally Posted by LetsGambool

Well, lets wait a couple of more days. They could have a legislator ready to bring this out.

My understanding is that we'll have a bill in this legislative session.

[LetsGambool]

Thanks TE. It seems a little odd that our lobbyist seems to have missed some friendly legislators, but that's good news.

[johncan]

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

Why do you want to lose an initiative so badly?

LOL