American non-profit membership organisation reacts positively to last week’s Court of Appeals reversal.
Thursday 29th January 2009
In America, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) poker advocacy group has stated that it was ‘pleased’ with a decision reached by the Kentucky Court of Appeals last week overturning an earlier ruling that could have seen the state seize 141 online gambling domain names.
By a two-to-one margin, the three-member Court in Louisville reversed an earlier decision by Judge Thomas Wingate of the lower Franklin County Circuit Court and found that Internet domain names do not constitute a gambling device and, as such, are not subject to forfeiture.
'This is a tremendous victory for Internet freedom and the rights of Kentucky residents who enjoy playing online poker,” said John Pappas, Executive Director for the non-profit membership organisation.
“We are pleased that the Appeals Court has forcefully reversed Judge Wingate's earlier ruling and confirmed many of the arguments that have been raised in opposition to the seizure effort.
“The Court of Appeals has agreed with the PPA's position that Judge Wingate did not have jurisdiction to issue the order that he entered against these domains and that Secretary Brown has no legitimate right to deprive the citizens of Kentucky of the legal right to play poker online.”
'On behalf of the thousands of PPA members who live in Kentucky we hope that Governor Beshear and Secretary Brown will abandon this misguided effort and focus new energies into regulation and taxation of Internet poker,” said Rich Muny, Kentucky State Director for the PPA.
'This common sense approach would benefit Kentucky's poker enthusiasts and the revenue will benefit the state as a whole. Rather than spending hard to find dollars on this case, the Governor could actually turn this into a much needed new revenue stream for the Commonwealth.'
In America, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) poker advocacy group has stated that it was ‘pleased’ with a decision reached by the Kentucky Court of Appeals last week overturning an earlier ruling that could have seen the state seize 141 online gambling domain names.
By a two-to-one margin, the three-member Court in Louisville reversed an earlier decision by Judge Thomas Wingate of the lower Franklin County Circuit Court and found that Internet domain names do not constitute a gambling device and, as such, are not subject to forfeiture.
'This is a tremendous victory for Internet freedom and the rights of Kentucky residents who enjoy playing online poker,” said John Pappas, Executive Director for the non-profit membership organisation.
“We are pleased that the Appeals Court has forcefully reversed Judge Wingate's earlier ruling and confirmed many of the arguments that have been raised in opposition to the seizure effort.
“The Court of Appeals has agreed with the PPA's position that Judge Wingate did not have jurisdiction to issue the order that he entered against these domains and that Secretary Brown has no legitimate right to deprive the citizens of Kentucky of the legal right to play poker online.”
'On behalf of the thousands of PPA members who live in Kentucky we hope that Governor Beshear and Secretary Brown will abandon this misguided effort and focus new energies into regulation and taxation of Internet poker,” said Rich Muny, Kentucky State Director for the PPA.
'This common sense approach would benefit Kentucky's poker enthusiasts and the revenue will benefit the state as a whole. Rather than spending hard to find dollars on this case, the Governor could actually turn this into a much needed new revenue stream for the Commonwealth.'