21 Oct 08

Kentucky Case: Gambling Advocates Reply

Following the Kentucky controversy regarding the online casinos' web domains, officials from iMEGA, PPA and the ICA have spoken.

It was previously posted here that the Kentucky judge Thomas Wingate has stated that over 140 .com domains belonging to online casinos in the Kentucky area would be seized by the state. Big poker organisms such as The Poker Players Association (PPA), along with officials from iMEGA and the Internet Commerce Association (ICA) have reacted to this decision shortly after, claiming that the judge did not act appropriately on this matter.

The Poker Players Association clearly stated that Judge Wingate "PPAgot it wrong", claiming that simply disappointed with the decision:
"First of all, we strongly disagree with Judge Wingate's ruling that poker is not a game of skill. As demonstrated in the amicus brief we filed, skill plays an essential role in being a successful poker player."

Rich Mundy, PPA director for Kentucky state, continued by saying:
"In essence, Governor Beshear and Judge Wingate are denying law-abiding citizens this form of recreation simply because it is enjoyed on the Internet. This is Internet censorship by judicial fiat, plain and simple."

Joe Brennan Jr, iMEGA chairman, said that "this decision must not be allowed to stand, iMEGAbecause of the threat it poses to the Internet as a whole", refering to the fact that this might actually shake the foundations of Internet freedom.

"Judge Wingate has ignored the clear laws of his own state in coming to a decision that essentially green-lights any jurisdiction - in the U.S. and abroad - to ignore our rights and abuse their power to do away with competition or speech or content they oppose, regardless of the law", Brennan Jr. continued.

The ICA president, Jeremiah Johnston, was also not satisfied with Judge Wingate's decision, pointing out as well towards the risks of Internet censorship that it brings along:
"This is a dangerous decision not just for domain name investors and developers but for all who value commerce and free speech on the Internet."

"For example, U.S. companies conducting legal business activities in this nation could be subject to seizure orders for their domain names issued by foreign courts for lack of compliance with local law and regulation merely because their websites can be viewed abroad", Johnston added.

Judge Thomas Wingate has ordered the owners of 141 online gambling domains to appear at a forfeiture hearing on November 17 to prove that they are blocking traffic from residents in Kentucky. If the sites either don't comply or simply don't show themselves for the hearing, then the domains will be forfeited to the state.