Kentucky Court Passes Law Affecting online Poker

[Jason]

So a court in Kentucky has passed a motion claiming that all online poker sites that take players from the state of Kentucky are in violation of Kentucky state law. In order to protect Kentucky citizens the motion asks for the domain names off all poker sites that have their domain registered in the US be turned over to the state. This includes Fulltilt, PokerStars, Bodog and many more.

Have a read of the following links.

http://www.bluffmagazine.com/poker-news/Kentucky-Governor-Seeks-Takeover-of-Online-Poker-Site-Domain-Names-1589.htm

http://www.4flush.com/online-gambling-news/ppa-statement-on-kentucky-seizure-of-poker-websites/1258/

http://www.point-spreads.com/downloads/Order%20of%20Seizure%20of%20Domain%20Names.pdf

what are your thoughts?

[RobPalmer]

another Democrat trying to take something that dont belong to him

[FOURDEAD36]

glad i live in michigan:D

[Miklosik]

He must be afraid that good people of Kentucky may spend all of their disposable income before the Derby is run. They have some backward laws, I swear. Any casino that opens must pay the horse racing industry a cut of casino profits. Their reasoning is that horse racing loses money that it would have gotten if the casino had not opened. It would be like Jewel Groceries having to pay Dominick's Groceries if they opened a store in direct competition. Crazy. The horse racing lobby has a very strong foothold in this country and in Kentucky in particular. They have financed alot of political campaigns and if someone wanted to do some digging I'm sure they would find hefty donations to the Govenor's reelection fund.

[fritzson]

At the moment I am glad I live in Sweden! I just heard on the news that swedish player don't need to pay taxes for the poker winning.. wooohooo... :D

[Thaxiss]

What would give them pause is a boycott on horse racing.

[natsdad]

He must be afraid that good people of Kentucky may spend all of their disposable income before the Derby is run. They have some backward laws, I swear. Any casino that opens must pay the horse racing industry a cut of casino profits. Their reasoning is that horse racing loses money that it would have gotten if the casino had not opened. It would be like Jewel Groceries having to pay Dominick's Groceries if they opened a store in direct competition. Crazy. The horse racing lobby has a very strong foothold in this country and in Kentucky in particular. They have financed alot of political campaigns and if someone wanted to do some digging I'm sure they would find hefty donations to the Govenor's reelection fund.

Sounds like Mr Beshear is nice and comfy in someone's back pocket. If i remember correctly the strong Horse Racing lobby in Australia is also why their nationals can't play real money games on sites based in Oz.

[tazdog2]

The largest cash crop in kentucky, is Mary Jane!, guess they can't get high and play poker!

[hdfree]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh ! If Massachusetts hears this they will pass a bill to allow it and TAX the **** out of it. :D

[stwonder]

glad i live in michigan:D

Put the bottle back in the cabinet.:P

[xpander1216]

The largest cash crop in kentucky, is Mary Jane!, guess they can't get high and play poker!

Yeah you got it right taz lol ;) and this law doesnt matter much to me or does any law about poker lol

The law here gets mad if they cut a crop and it didnt have big buds on it for them to steal and sale for themselves lol;) take the buds and burn the rest ....sale the buds...bust who baught them ....keep the money in your pocket and resale them again and again lol:D;):eek::wave:

TRUE STORY!!! just ask anyone who lives in good ole Kenf^cky ooops Kentucky :D

[Thaxiss]

This will be appealed and shot down.

don't worry about it

[SteelmanJohn]

I read this on another forum:

PPA Responds To Kentucky Seizure Order
29-09-08

In America, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) grassroots poker organisation has issued a statement regarding last week’s decision by a court in Kentucky to issue seizure orders on domain names specialising in gambling.

The PPA is a leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members across the US including over 13,000 in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. John Pappas, Executive Director for the PPA, reacted to a decision by the Franklin County Circuit Court to order of seizure of 141 Internet domain names including AbsolutePoker.com, BodogLife.com, DoylesRoom.com, FullTiltPoker.com and PokerStars.com.

'The PPA is outraged at the actions taken by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and the Franklin County Circuit Court to seize the domain names of Internet gambling websites,” said Pappas.

“We believe this action not only unduly restricts the freedom of Kentucky residents to play games of skill such as poker online but sets a precedent for censorship of the Internet by force.

'Many of Governor Beshear's arguments, that online poker is illegal, unregulated and without a mechanism to capture tax revenues, are false. Online poker is not illegal under Kentucky law, is regulated in its home jurisdiction and the Commonwealth of Kentucky chose not to license and regulate poker websites.

'If the Governor truly wants to implement tighter regulations, taxation mechanisms and consumer protections on Internet gambling, the PPA suggests he publicly support Federal legislation by US House of Representatives Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, HR 2460, which would achieve those goals.

'Poker is a game of skill, a true American pastime and has a proud heritage in Kentucky. Simply because the game has evolved into the 21st Century, it should not be treated as suspect activity. Forcefully and secretly seizing control of websites that offer online poker games is not a sound public policy or a sound legal solution.'

[SteelmanJohn]

Read this on the other forum also:

Kentucky Internet Gambling Hearing Postponed Until Friday

Posted on 25 September 2008

A hearing in the Franklin County Circuit Court over whether Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will be successfully able to gain control of 141 internet gambling domains has been postponed until Friday at 3:30pm ET, according to a statement released by Jennifer Brislin, the Communications Director for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

A list of the 141 domain names in question was posted on the Poker Players Alliance website. Those that would be affected include absolutepoker.com, bodoglife.com, cakepoker.com, bugsysclub.com, doylesroom.com, fulltiltpoker.com, goldenpalace.com, pokerhost.com, pokerstars.com, pokertime.com, reeferpoker.com, riverbelle.com, royalvegas.com, sportsbook.com, ultimatebet.com, wsex.com, and microgaming.com. According to the official complaint, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is seeking “seizure and forfeiture of internet domain names used to promote, conduct and/or advance illegal gambling” within its borders.

In a statement released by the Poker Players Alliance, the online poker industry’s main lobbying group, Executive Director John Pappas stated that he was “outraged at the actions taken by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and the Franklin County Circuit Court to seize the domain names of Internet gambling websites. We believe this action not only unduly restricts the freedom of Kentucky residents to play games of skill, such as poker, online, but sets a precedent for censorship of the Internet by force.”

In an editorial that appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper on Wednesday, one reader remarked that money sent to off-shore internet gambling entities like the ones in question “are untaxed dollars, and losses are directed out of the country rather than toward Kentucky businesses, banks, and legal gambling activities, including racetracks. Moreover, since most internet gambling is off-shore and unregulated, players have few if any assurances that the games are honest and that they will be paid if they win.”

In Kentucky, the move to eradicate internet gambling from the Commonwealth partly surrounds the flourishing horse racing industry. Every year, Churchill Downs, located in Louisville, hosts the Kentucky Derby, which is arguably the most prestigious horse racing event in the world. Its winner in 2008, Big Brown, banked its owner $1.4 million for the victory. The Churchill Downs Company advertises TwinSpires.com, which allows online wagering in horse racing. United States Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, stated in a hearing last Tuesday that whether online betting on horse racing was legal “depended on which department you asked.” Oregon-based TwinSpires.com is not among the 141 internet gambling domains listed in the case.

At the Federal level, HR 6870, the Payments System Protection Act, was successfully passed out of the House Financial Services Committee last Tuesday. The 2008 Congressional session is slated to end on Friday; however, given the economic issues in the United States, this is ultimately still up in the air. Whether Congress returns for a “lame duck” session after the 2008 general elections is also to be determined. For Frank, HR 6870 marked his second attempt at pushing through legislation to clarify the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. In June, HR 6757 was struck down in Committee. HR 6870 calls for a list to be developed of legal and illegal internet gambling activities. The bill also enacts regulations of the UIGEA that affect sports betting within 60 days of becoming law.

[tazdog2]

Yeah you got it right taz lol ;) and this law doesnt matter much to me or does any law about poker lol

The law here gets mad if they cut a crop and it didnt have big buds on it for them to steal and sale for themselves lol;) take the buds and burn the rest ....sale the buds...bust who baught them ....keep the money in your pocket and resale them again and again lol:D;):eek::wave:

TRUE STORY!!! just ask anyone who lives in good ole Kenf^cky ooops Kentucky :D

LMAO!

[enzolito]

How nice it must be to live in "The Land Of The Free"