Washington State conjurs up certain images - National Parks and volcanoes, Boeing, Starbucks, the sitcom Frasier and of course Microsoft. Fairly progressive state.

You'd think.

But clearly, with all its high points, Washington State officials have nothing better to do then go after its own people.

Recently, Washington State made online gambling a Class C felony - the same as drug dealing and child pornography. Clearly they are lacking in the latter 2 crimes, since they are actively going after those online gambling crooks. Well, not quite online gambling sites - but sites that talk about online gambling.

A Washington man recently found his site was illegal. All he did was write about online casinos and point people to the right places - and make sure they didn't go to the wrong ones

However, these ads, links and merely mentioning an online casino is against the new State law. Apparantly its 'aiding and abetting'. So Ted Boute pulled his site - the Integrity Casino Guide (I'd link it - but its gone). There was no gambling on his site. Just links.

Writing about online gambling in a way that seems promotional can earn a cease-and-desist order, and potentially, a criminal charge. Boutte learned this when a Bellingham Herald article featured state officials saying his site was illegal. He later shut it down and is trying to sell it out of state.

"1984 has finally arrived," Boutte says. "I can't believe this is happening in a liberal place like Washington."

More may be on the way. The state plans to hire an investigator to enforce the new law.

If I was based in Seattle I'd be arrested and faced with a huge fine or prison. I've been to Seattle. Its lovely. I don't feel like returning too soon.

Article: This column may be illegal