You could call it the "Internet Anti-Discrimination Act."

Because it is vague and ambiguous.

Repealing the law is only a start. I understand the desire to stop there, but this is an expensive process and one that you don't want to do twice. Anticipate the reaction of the opposition and deal with that in the initiative. Be a 4th level thinker, yet make the initiative language as simple as possible.

There is a reason that it isn't easy.

So suppose internet poker does get legalized and regulated at a national level. Would WA still be blocked and excluded then if RCW 9.46.240 is not repealed?

That depends on the final form of the federal bill. The Menendez bill in the Senate includes a provision which states that no current state law can be construed to require a state to opt out from the federal licensing. This in essence would make the federal law trump all current state law, and WA would have to take some additional action (probably legislative) to opt out. Licensed sites could service WA despite RCW 9.46.240 unless WA did an opt out.

ASAP ^ IMo

Well this is terrible news. A new approach to undermining this ludicrous law would seem to be required.

The PPA is a respectable lobbying organisation so is unlikely to openly endorse a civil disobedience campaign. For those in Washington though this might be the appropriate route. It would probably need a local direct action organisation.

Me? I would setup a demonstration outside the courthouse. Have two or more laptops connected via the internet on a peer to peer game and play poker HU for 1c, collect the pennies in a jar, get as many people as possible to play a hand, sign the petition and join the organisation. Keep doing it all accross the state, openly defy the law, show it up as ludicrous and unenforcable. Make it clear that they are banning you playing for 1c but this means that the minimum stakes are $X at the local casino. Get celebs to do it, get out of state people to come along and play a hand, invite your representatives to play a hand.

Demanding the right to play penny poker in your home not expensive poker in a casino will have resonance with many who value civil liberties, it also shows up the casinos and the politicians who ban this. You can also do it outside the casinos to appeal to B&M players and other gamblers for support.

IMHO this campaign should now include civil disobedience.

Sounds like:

a.) Using an address out of Washington if you can, and

b.) Using a VPN

would get round this?

How does this affect an individuals tax position though?

No impact. Since Washington State does not have a state income tax, there is no paperwork to file with the state.

i think media attn. is needed asap as well ....
emails and phone calls from around the states imo
let them know that playing Texas Hold 'Em, a game FDR and Obama have played, is now punishable by 5 years in prison / in the same felony class as child predators.

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Demanding the right to play from... whom? PokerStars? Washington State Gambling Commission? Washington State Supreme Court? Congress?

Look. Rallies, demonstrations, marches, etc are great. But by themselves they don't change the law. Focus on repealing RCW 9.46.240 through initiative. Get something on the ballot. Then stage rallies every day to draw attention to the initiative.

Question: How much will PokerStars lose in rake fees from Washington State residents?

It takes at least 241,153 signatures for an initiative to be on the ballot in Washington State. However, let's assume we need about 110% of that to cover the invalid signatures from duplicates and non-registered voters.

It costs about $.50 per signature (Tuff_Fish's estimate). So we're looking at around $135k to get it on the ballot.

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I called and suggested a story to be run on it and gave the basics as well as referenced 2p2 for additional information.

This makes sense. Besides, when the case was argued at the State Supreme Court, how many poker players showed up for the rally? 100? There should have been 1000 people, whether they play poker or just support your right to do so.

100 people won't impress anybody unless there is a clear purpose -- supporting an initiative to repeal the law. The people of Washington will support the initiative if you keep it simple.

Media involvement is a must IMO -- just make sure they get their part (facts) right!

good work by the PPA... lollerskates

it's the pushing of HR2267 and the licensing requirements that now has PokerStars saying adios to all of Washington

PPA: making online poker worse for the player since 2006

PPA bashers make me wonder sometimes.

Do you really think everything would be just fine now if nobody was fighting for us? This was definitely a step back, especially for those of us in WA, but they are doing what can be done.

Corrupted government officials deserve the blame, not the people fighting against them.

Yeah, WA passed a law banning online gaming years ago anticipating the rise of the PPA and Franks HR 2267

I am not surprised that you would take this opportunity to find joy in other folks misery. Misery loves company and your agenda is to make the world of online poker subject to the same level of legal misery as online sports betting.

The PPA neither wrote the WA law, nor the WA Court opinion, nor had anything to do with PS decision to quit WA. Nor is the PPA responsible for Stars' desire to maintain a global reputation as a law abiding company.

When you achieve your result and the government has got its hands off online poker (by making all of it clearly illegal) Stars will quit the whole US, not just WA state.

And you will blame the PPA for that too.

Skallagrim

For what it's worth, I think the "think of the revenue" argument is terrible, because, fundamentally, it does not address the concerns of the people who bothered to vote for the law in the first place ("think of the children"). This will do two things: 1) it will make your fight to get the legislation passed an uphill battle because the opposition will be just as strong, and 2) the "lowlifes" who do X (where X = poker, lottery, alcohol, marijuana, smoking, etc.) will be taxed up the ass because the underlying assumption in the "think of the revenue" argument is that X is bad.

You're right that, if the long-term goal is to simply get online poker approved as legal, the quickest path is to try and pass a finance-based argument in an economic crisis. But if you want poker to thrive long-term, it can't be treated the way that cigarettes are; nor should poker players be treated the way smokers are treated.

IMO, the PPA or other poker-minded people should strive to build more connections between the positive aspects of poker and things that people already accept.

1) Building a poker bankroll and investing the stock market have a lot in common. Both take into account a long-term growth rate and short-term variations. Poker has Kelly fractions, investment banks use alpha; it's really the same thing.

2) Poker teaches math. Math classes frequently use cards as teaching tools for probability, statistics, and combinatorics.

3) Poker teaches valuation. In the same way that companies will look at an acquisition and compare the price they'd pay to the value of what they're getting, poker players compare the price they'd pay to the value of the hand they have.

This isn't to say poker is something we should encourage children to take up, since there are admittedly many negatives to poker as well, but it can be an overall positive experience if done right. It's dangerous enough such that it should be restricted, but not so dangerous it should be banned.

That doesn't even make sense.

yes, if the PPA hadn't pushed for HR2267 (which hurts online poker btw), then PStars would not be kicking Washington players off the site

another bullcrap defense by you

you've learned your political smoke screen well by trying to say I'm joying in the misery of others

I'm not. I'm pissed at your organization that has brought about this misery. I'm pointing out how YOU CAUSED THIS. Your good intentions are worth jack squat. Wake up and stop hurting all of us.

You are wrong.

Why doesn't PS allow French and Italian players to play on PS.com? How did the PPA /HR2267 make them do that?

Skallagrim

Do you also think a rooster's crowing causes the sun to rise?

What a joke. You're just trolling the forums trying to discourage people from fighting back because you think you can preserve online sports betting for a couple months longer.

The WA law passed because poker players were NOT organized and fighting back, not because they failed to be quiet enough.