BILL REQ. #:  H-1592.2 

Read first time 02/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to reducing the penalty for a person conducting unlawful internet gambling in his or her primary residence for recreational purposes to a misdemeanor; amending RCW 9.46.240; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 9.46.240 and 2006 c 290 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information, other than a person described in subsection (2) of this section, shall be guilty of a class C felony subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021. ((However,))
     (2) Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information over the internet or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information over the internet, in his or her primary residence for recreational purposes, is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021. For purposes of this subsection, "recreational purposes" means for the defendant's own enjoyment and not as part of an enterprise that derives income from operating an internet web site that transmits or receives gambling information.
     (3) This section shall not apply to such information transmitted or received or equipment installed or maintained relating to activities authorized by this chapter or to any act or acts in furtherance thereof when conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules adopted under this chapter.