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Must The House Always Win?: A Critique Of Rousso V. State, Rachel J. Schaefer

Seattle University Law Review

Gambling enthusiasts in Washington may be dismayed to learn that while it is legal to place a wager at one of the numerous brick-and-mortar casinos located in the state, placing the same wager over the Internet is a crime. This result arises from a 2006 amendment to Washington Revised Code 9.46.240 (the Gambling Act), which effectively bans individuals from placing bets or wagers over the Internet from Washington. In addition to prohibiting bets made by individuals, the law also prohibits Internet gambling businesses from receiving bets placed by individuals in Washington—even if those gambling businesses operate far from the state’s …