The recent appeal by Renton Lawyer Lee Rousso to allow online poker in Washington State was denied.
The appeals court rejected Rousso’s arguments that a 2006 law forbidding Internet gambling in the state violates the clause of the U.S Constitution that gives the federal government the right to regulate interstate commerce.
The rejection means that the ruling made by a King County Superior Court judge last may now stands. When that ruling was made, around 70 poker players rallied outside the courthouse, saying that they saw no harm from playing poker in their homes. So far, Rousso knows of no prosecutions which have been made under the new law.
The three judges presiding over the appeal made a unanimous ruling, saying that Rousso would have to show that policing online poker imposes excessive burdens and is not worth the state’s commitment to regulating gaming. The court said “Ultimately, given the importance of the state’s interest in protecting its citizens from the ills associated with gambling, and the relatively small cost imposed on out-of-state business by complying, Rousso has failed to meet his burden.”
Rousso said that the appeals court also rejected many of the state’s arguments in the case, so he is seriously considering taking the case to the state Supreme Court.
Email this page
Print this page
Bookmark with del.icio.us
