Lee Rousso Is Running for Governor to Overturn Online Poker Ban

Lee Rousso announced last month that he is running for Governor of the state of Washington. He will try to do so by winning an August primary over the current Governor, Christine Gregoire, in which he voted for in the last election.

In March of 2006, Gregoire signed a law that makes it a Class C felony to play online poker in Washington. This puts, by law, online poker players in the same category as people who possess child pornography, threaten the governor, or torture animals.

Rousso, an attorney, first made news when he file a court case that is still pending, challenging the new law. Not to be deterred he now plans on putting up a fight politically if his legal case falters.

"I'm just upset beyond words that a law like that in a country like this could become a law. It's just flat out wrong," Rousso said.

Lee is also the Poker Players Alliance's director for the state of Washington and though his goal now is to contend in the primary, ultimately getting the law stricken from the books is the main goal. Rousso claims that Washington State residents also stand behind him.

"You just can't even find people who think that this law is a good idea," Rousso said. "Even people who are opposed to gambling in general recognize that this law goes way, way, way too far."

"The reason I announced [my campaign] in January when I did, the first day of the legislative session, is I'm hoping to shake up the legislature and get them to revisit the issue during this legislative session," Rousso said. "If I could get the law changed, I would pack up my tent and go home, because I would consider mission accomplished."