Washington state sucks for poker

B

B E Z ON ME

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Total posts
51
Chips
0
So I live in Washington state and anytime I try to download a major poker site like pokerstars or ignition or 888 it tells me that I can't even join because of where my geological placement is so what I was wondering is if anyone knew any great sites that I could play on.where I don't have to join a club or go through any loopholes.
 
Tammy

Tammy

Can I help you?
Administrator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Total posts
57,707
Awards
11
US
Chips
1,192
Washington State has criminalized all forms of online gambling, whether real money or play money. I wouldn't advise trying to work around it. It is a Class C Felony in your state.
 
B

B E Z ON ME

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Total posts
51
Chips
0
WA is an odd one because they actually criminalize online poker but they've never enforced it. Have you tried other sites such as Carbon, Sportsbetting, or Black Chip?
Not yet?
 
Luvepoker

Luvepoker

Lost in the twilight zone
Community Guide
Joined
Feb 21, 2018
Total posts
5,288
Awards
23
US
Chips
492
I would not try it mate. Not worth the price. It wrong in my opinion but again its not worth it.
 
P

Pablitto

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 10, 2020
Total posts
15
Chips
0
Maybe Washington as a state is bad, but if you live in Poland you Can't even play with few friends cause gov treat you like a criminal 😢
 
G

GrannySmit77

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Total posts
218
Chips
0
Since travelling to canada or mexico might not be an option, maybe you can travel to Nevada or Jersey for more choices. Just a thought.
 
L

LotharMcDowner

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Total posts
229
Awards
1
Chips
1
There are quite a few places to play live though... Ilani outside Vancouver, Muckleshoot outside Seattle, Aces in Spokane just to name a few. Also a ton of rooms in Portland, like Portland Meadows. GL
 
perrypip

perrypip

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 30, 2020
Total posts
499
Chips
11
The Native American own casinos in Washington are the reason online gambling is illegal there. While it is a felony, there are no records of any individuals being charged for illegal online gambling. Supposedly BetOnline will let you play. But if you do use bitcoin only and use a VPN to make it hard for them to detect. A felony is a felony and you don't want to be the first person charged with it. It will change your life forever if you are.
 
Shakes

Shakes

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Total posts
511
Awards
1
Chips
1
Unfortunately most of the US is like that with the poker scene. I know my game has suffered quite a bit from the whole Black Friday situation as I am practically a newbie again and really did not start to get back into the game since the whole covid thing. But it isnt as bad as Washington State. As Tammy has said I would not work around it since it is a felony. But if you are really serious and want to play, I may suggest moving to a new state, or if the border ever opens again, then to Canada or Mexico. I have to admit I am thinking of leaving the states too but thats a different topic altogether.
 
S

samsonand

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 11, 2019
Total posts
655
Chips
0
I imagine how the situation must be in that place, not even in my country everyone is alarmed by what is coming in the new elections this year and we are going through bad times

 
Last edited by a moderator:
NWPatriot

NWPatriot

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Total posts
480
Awards
1
Chips
1
So I live in Washington state and anytime I try to download a major poker site like PokerStars or ignition or 888 it tells me that I can't even join because of where my geological placement is so what I was wondering is if anyone knew any great sites that I could play on.where I don't have to join a club or go through any loopholes.


I feel your pain. I also live in Washington State. As such, I focus on live play (until everything closed down of course), and use online games for practice.

I have convinced myself that freerolls are not illegal. My rationale is that by playing a freeroll we are not "putting anything at risk" to play. If we are not risking anything, then we cannot be gambling.

We can play at NLOP for free and still win cash (do not pay for the "VIP subscription" or you will cross the line into "paying"). You can open an account at Betonline and at America's Cardroom and you can play in the Cardschat freerolls (and some other sponsored freerolls as well). If you win at NLOP, you can easily cash out. If you win at BOL or ACR, you will have to jump through some hoops before you can cash out.

Good luck and God bless.
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Total posts
4,779
Awards
14
Chips
126
You cant even play a home game on stars in WA. I think a federal solution is the only way WA gets legal poker.

Go Zags!
 
Tammy

Tammy

Can I help you?
Administrator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Total posts
57,707
Awards
11
US
Chips
1,192
I feel your pain. I also live in Washington State. As such, I focus on live play (until everything closed down of course), and use online games for practice.

I have convinced myself that Freerolls are not illegal. My rationale is that by playing a freeroll we are not "putting anything at risk" to play. If we are not risking anything, then we cannot be gambling.

We can play at NLOP for free and still win cash (do not pay for the "VIP subscription" or you will cross the line into "paying"). You can open an account with online poker sites and you can play in the Cardschat freerolls (and some other sponsored freerolls as well). If you win at NLOP, you can easily cash out. If you win at some sites, you will have to jump through some hoops before you can cash out.

Good luck and God bless.
But they are. Even play money online gambling is illegal in WA.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jaymfc

jaymfc

R.I.P DJ & Buck
Loyaler
Joined
May 3, 2007
Total posts
16,103
Awards
91
Chips
1,262
Washington State has criminalized all forms of online gambling, whether real money or play money. I wouldn't advise trying to work around it. It is a Class C Felony in your state.
how can play money be considered gambling?
I'm not advising anyone to break any laws in any state but how many of us continued to play poker after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 ? or after the crackdown in 2011 (black friday) ?
JMO;)
You cant even play a home game on stars in WA. I think a federal solution is the only way WA gets legal poker.

Go Zags!
lived in washington from 2014 - 2017
Project5
 
NWPatriot

NWPatriot

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 18, 2018
Total posts
480
Awards
1
Chips
1
I really do not see how "play money" can be considered gambling. In order to gamble, you must put something of value at risk. Is playing Monopoly then gambling with play money?


Either way, the laws here are archaic and inconsistent. I can't play online poker for a quarter, but I can go to 10 casinos within 15 miles of my house and lose my life savings. I can't play poker, but I can buy marijuana at 10 places within 10 miles of my house. If I was a heroin user, they would even give me a place to do drugs with immunity. I can't play poker but the governor can release 1000's of convicted criminals from prison. I can't play poker but Seattle can allow massive looting/vandalism/arson and assault with little to no repercussions. It sure is a good thing the state is protecting us from those evil poker players.

Didn't mean to get all political on us here, but the inconsistency in policy and execution of current laws is absurd.

Good luck and God bless.
 
Z

zaza123123

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Total posts
27
Chips
0
yes because they worried about scams sorry they do for ur benifint
 
Vilgeoforc

Vilgeoforc

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Sep 27, 2014
Total posts
877
Awards
2
Chips
0
I really do not see how "play money" can be considered gambling. In order to gamble, you must put something of value at risk. Is playing Monopoly then gambling with play money?


Either way, the laws here are archaic and inconsistent. I can't play online poker for a quarter, but I can go to 10 casinos within 15 miles of my house and lose my life savings. I can't play poker, but I can buy marijuana at 10 places within 10 miles of my house. If I was a heroin user, they would even give me a place to do drugs with immunity. I can't play poker but the governor can release 1000's of convicted criminals from prison. I can't play poker but Seattle can allow massive looting/vandalism/arson and assault with little to no repercussions. It sure is a good thing the state is protecting us from those evil poker players.

Didn't mean to get all political on us here, but the inconsistency in policy and execution of current laws is absurd.

Good luck and God bless.

Go to jail for playing poker ...))) ... on the Internet ...))) ... for chips that have no value.))). This is really absurd. Then let Dota be banned too.
 
Top