Grassroots political advocacy group ‘remains confident’ that southern American state will not be permitted to seize 141 domain names associated with online gambling.
Thursday 25th March 2010
In America, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) grassroots political advocacy group has released a statement concerning the recent ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court in favour of the seizure of 141 domain names associated with online gambling.
Kentucky has been attempting to seize website names such as AbsolutePoker.com, BodogLife.com, DoylesRoom.com, FullTiltPoker.com and PokerStars.com since September of 2008. However, the state was blocked in January by the Kentucky Court Of Appeals in a case brought by a number of industry groups including the Interactive Media Entertainment And Gaming Association (iMEGA), the Interactive Gaming Council and Sportsbook.com.
The southern state soon appealed and the Kentucky Supreme Court, after hearing oral arguments in October, last week overturned the earlier decision and found that iMEGA and the Interactive Gaming Council had no standing in the case because they had not informed the body of their membership.
“The PPA understands the technical nature of the decision issued today by the Kentucky Supreme Court and remains confident that, once that issue is cured, the Supreme Court will address the compelling merits of the arguments in support of the Court Of Appeals decision prohibiting the Commonwealth's seizure of 141 internet gaming sites,” said John Pappas, Executive Director for the PPA.
“There are fundamental freedoms at stake in this case, not only the freedom of poker players in Kentucky and globally, but Internet freedom across the globe. The Commonwealth's effort at such a bold, broad and, we believe, unlawful seizure sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who uses the Internet.
“The PPA and its members continue to encourage Kentucky officials to work with us to implement common-sense licensing and regulation of online poker that will protect consumers and create a much needed revenue stream for the Commonwealth.”
