PokerStars, the world’s largest online card room, just got a little smaller today, after deciding to boot all of their Washington State based players off of their real money tables. 

This historic change in policy, from a site that has always been fully US friendly, comes on the heels of a recent Washington Supreme Court decision, which upheld the state’s highly restrictive anti-online poker law.  A law that makes the playing of online poker in Washington a felony. 

This controversial law is being challenged primarily by Lee Rousso of the Poker Players Alliance, who argues- thus far unsuccessfully- that it violates the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution.  On September 23rd, Washington’s highest court disagreed, and apparently until Lee can get his day in the US Supreme Court, Washington poker players that still want to play on Stars, will be forced to stick with freerolls.

PokerStars, in a recent e-mail sent to its Washington clients and available on the site at www.pokerstars.com/poker/news/washington, had this to say about the situation,

“In light of this decision, following extensive consultation with our legal advisors, we believe that the right course of action is to now block real money play by Washington residents on the PokerStars.com site. This policy will remain in effect until the law changes or subsequent legal challenges succeed. Our decision to block real money play in Washington does not affect the balance of funds in customer accounts, which remain completely safe. Our payment services team continues to be available to Washington State residents to assist with cashout requests.”  -PokerStars.com

To read the rest of the statement in its entirety, visit PokerStars.com.