Supreme Court agrees to hear Internet gambling case
The Washington Supreme Court has agreed to review a Court of Appeals ruling in a case that tests whether the Washington State Gambling Act (chapter 9.46 RCW) applies to an Internet gambling site. The case is Internet Community & Entertainment Corp., d/b/a Betcha.com v. State.
In 2007, the company was informed by agents of the Washington State Gambling Commission that Betcha.com was engaged in illegal professional gambling. The company sued the state seeking a declaratory judgment that its social wagering site does not violate state law. Betcha.com lost at the trial level. On appeal, the Court of Appeals held that because Betcha.com customers agreed in advance that participants were not required to pay their losses, Betcha.com was not engaged in "gambling" as defined in the Gambling Act. The state appealed, and the case now goes to the Supreme Court.
The court agreed to hear several other cases which we'll post shortly.
