5/13/10 – Washington State resident Lee Rousso remains a thorn in the side of the gambling enforcement authorities in the north-west Pacific state, where draconian laws make playing poker on the internet a serious criminal offence with heavy penalties.
On May 27 the determined lawyer will again present his case, this time to the Washington Supreme Court, where he will argue that the state law against online gambling and gamblers should be abandoned because its protectionist nature contravenes the Commerce Clause of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Washington state is notorious for the variety of land gambling it allows on the one hand, whilst adopting over-the-top punitive measures against the online version of the popular pastime on the other. It is one of the few places where online gamblers can be criminally prosecuted for playing in the comfort of their own homes.
Rousso enjoyed a modicum of success in a previous hearing, where the Washington Court of Appeals threw out his protectionist argument but agreed with some of the points he raised.
The Poker Players Alliance is supporting Rousso – one of its regional directors – in his action, and has submitted an amicus brief. The organisation will hold a rally outside the Supreme Court in Olympia, WA following his appearance on May 27.
The Washington Supreme Court accepted Rousso’s case in September 2009. He’ll be representing himself, backed by a team of PPA lawyers.