A gambler in Hawaii who won $176,688 playing progressive Caribbean poker last week at InterCasino has found himself in legal trouble.
A press release announcing the player's good fortune, issued by InterCasino, caught the eye of a Honolulu police officer who argues that the player, identified only as "moosed," has broken a state law.
"It is illegal," Lt. Michael Fujioka of the HPD Narcotics/Vice Division told the Star-Bulletin. "You can't do Internet gambling from Hawaii."
Under chapter 712-1220 & 1223 of the Penal Code of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, it is a misdemeanor violation for Hawaii residents to participate in any type of gambling activity.
In Fujioka's opinion, the e-casino, one of the best known on the Internet, was trolling for customers and could even be phony. He added that this was the first time he was aware of anyone actually winning at an online casino site.
A spokesman for Cryptologic Inc., InterCasino's software provider, said that players are cautioned to verify that they're not breaking local laws before gambling at the site.