By Eric Rosenberg

A Washington attorney is challenging the state's 2006 law that made playing online poker a felony.

Renton, Washinton based attorney Lee Rousso is a poker aficionado. In fact, the councilor once won a seat to play in the World Series of Poker's main event in an online qualifier. Now, he has his sites set on a different prize. Rousso claims that the state's ban is a direct violation of the Constitution's commerce clause, which forbids individual states from passing protectionist laws against other states' business.

"I think my chances are darn good," he told the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

The ban took effect last spring and specifically banned Internet based card games such as Texas hold'em and Omaha.

Current law makes it a felony to play online poker, however the state gaming commission oversees dozens of licensed brick and mortar poker rooms, most owned and operated by American Indians.