Online Poker has been dealt another blow. Last week a Washington state appeals court rejected the arguments of a Renton lawyer, Lee Rousso, who had been arguing that a 2006 law forbidding Internet gambling in the state violates a clause of the U.S. constitution.

The unanimous decision by three judges of division I of the appeals court says that Rousso would have to show that policing Internet poker imposes excessive burdens and not worth the state's commitment to regulating gaming.

After reviewing the appeals court findings, Rousso said he is considering taking the case to the state Supreme Court.

This is an unfortunate continuation of the years long effort by prohibition advocates to stop citizens from engaging in safe activities from the comfort of their own home and the privacy of their own computers. While hopes are still high that the federal law known as the UIGEA will eventually be repealed or modified to accept regulated online gambling sites (which would void any state laws concerning the subject), rulings like this could still affect players who want to legally enjoy the benefits of gaming online.

While legally this is a setback for online Poker enthusiasts, note that there have been no state prosecutions since the law went into effect in 2006. And don't tell the Washington state appeals court, but Full Tilt continues to accept players from the entire United States.