Washington Ponders Online Poker

Washington Ponders Online Poker

Friday, 15 January 2016

Regulated online poker could become a reality in the western American state of Washington later this year if recently submitted legislation receives a positive response.

Known as House Bill 1114, the measure was originally submitted a year ago but failed to gain any traction. Now, with other states looking closely at the legalisation and regulation of online poker, Washington House Of Representative member Sherry Appleton and Republican counterpart Vincent Buys have resubmitted the proposed legislation in hopes of a better return.

Online poker is currently illegal in Washington thanks to 2006 legislation and anyone caught playing could face a felony conviction. If House Bill 1114 was to be accepted, it would overturn this prohibition and establish a legal framework for enjoying the game online.

“Poker has long been an authorised activity in Washington state and with the Internet as a technological aid poker can be conducted in a virtual environment and played from the privacy of one's own computer or mobile device,” reads the proposed legislation.

Of course, for any online poker bill to be passed in the United States it needs to successfully overcome a number of obstacles. Whether House Bill 1114 can do just this remains to be seen and there remains no guarantee that residents of the state will be able to enjoy a regulated game of online poker in 2016.



Tags: Washington, Vincent Buys, Sherry Appleton