Washington Gambling Magazines Halted
Published: Monday, July 10, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
WASHINGTON GAMBLING MAGAZINES HALTED
Read what you like in the land of the free? Not in Washington State it appears
The Seattle Times continued it's scathing attacks on Washington State politicos this week with a report that gamblers in the state will be deprived of their gaming reading material as a result of the new anti online gambling laws passed early in June.
Staff columnist Danny Westneat reported that whilst most Americans toasted liberty and pursued happiness on July 4, others received letters from the publisher of two gambling magazines to which they were subscribed, writing: "It is with deep regret that we must inform you that we must cancel all subscriptions to Washington State."
The magazines are "Casino Player" - a monthly review of U.S. casinos and hotels - and "Strictly Slots" - a guide to one-armed bandits, video poker and other mechanised means of gambling.
The columnist comments that although the recipients wanted to receive the magazines and had paid for them, "...thanks to a twisted reading of the state's new law against Internet gambling" this would not be possible.
Westneat goes on to explain that "....the state says placing bets online is against the law. Fine. But the state goes on to say that even writing about Internet gambling in a way that's promotional is "aiding and abetting" an illegal industry.
"So now two print magazines consider themselves banned in this state. It's not clear whether the publisher pulled them on his own or was asked to by the state. The letter vaguely cites "new state laws regarding the legality of online gaming."
The columnist points out that no actual betting occurs via these magazines. People buy them just to read about gambling.
The column quotes one of the denied readers as saying: "My government is saying there is something I'm not allowed to read. I've lived in this country for 60 years and I can't remember anything like this happening to me before."
Westneat comments with some asperity: "Well, it has certainly happened to others. Ask Larry Flynt. But it is almost never allowed to stand. Has to do with all that stuff we heard ad nauseam last week about independence and the freedom to think and speak as we want."
