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The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide and over 20,000 in Washington, expressed its disappointment with the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision upholding the state law that makes it a Class C Felony to play poker and gamble online.
“We are extremely disappointed in the State Supreme Court’s ruling given the clear evidence that the state legislature never sought to regulate Internet poker as it does in-state bricks and mortar card rooms and internet horse racing, but instead simply banned internet poker and, even worse, criminalized the players. This law is still a mistake, and we will continue to fight to have it overturned,” said former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato, Chairman of the PPA.
In May, the PPA provided amicus testimony supporting Lee Rousso’s case before the Supreme Court. More than 100 poker enthusiasts gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court to add their support and decry the state law.
“Unfortunately, the court has upheld an unpopular prohibition. Poker players in this state need to make their voices heard. Now more than ever we need to rally together to fight this outrageous law. I hope the poker community will stand with me as I appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Lee Rousso.
“The one bright spot in the ruling is that the Court made it clear they weren’t endorsing the law, but rather endorsing the right of the legislature to pass the law. That underscores what we’ve heard time and again – that this law is ridiculous. In fact, earlier this year, a poll found that 80 percent of Washington voters oppose the law,” continued D’Amato.
“By no means is the fight over. The PPA will pursue other legal and legislative efforts to overturn this law and will continue to work with lawmakers in Washington State and Washington, D.C., to pass legislation to license and regulate online poker and protect the rights of poker players to enjoy the game they love wherever they chose to play it,” concluded D’Amato.
