Kentucky Seizure Of Illegal Online Gambling Domains Frozen

A Kentucky court in Frankfort held another hearing Friday, September 26, that resulted in freezing the previous court ruling which called for 141 online gambling domains to be seized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to illegal online gambling operations. This most recent hearing is considered a major, if not temporary, victory for pro-gambling advocates.

 

According to a press release from the Kentucky governor’s office, one online gambling operator with at least two domains on the list of 141 has already succumb to the initial order for seizure, but the remaining domain owners are not willing to hand over their assets so easily.

 

Circuit judge Thomas Wingate heard the defense statements on Friday of multiple counsels defending the interest of online poker and online gambling operators. Judge Wingate agreed that the defense would need time to prepare legal briefs in the case, granting a continuance. The previous ruling has been frozen, and the hearing will resume in early October, on the 6^th or 7^th of the month.

 

Though Wingate was not pleased that attorneys for the defendants would not reveal the names of corporations or owners of the domains in questions, he did describe the case as “very complex” when calling for a continuance. The judge reiterated to the defense that he is not lifting the order for seizure, stating this is only a temporary freeze, and that “You are going to have to eventually pony up and say who these people are.”

 

The PPA (Poker Players Alliance) and iMEGA (Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association) each file “friend of the court” briefs in the case that advised judge Wingate of related difficulties concerning the way the case had been filed up to this point.

 

Executive Director of the PPA, John Pappas commented after Friday’s hearing. “The Poker Players Alliance is pleased that the court decided to allow for a full review of this case, including arguments from both sides. Until this point, the state and its hired gun class-action attorneys have acted in an ex parte fashion – only presenting one side of the argument to the court. The continuance granted today will ensure all the cards are on the table and allow the current owners of the domain names of the 141 websites to retain ownership in the interim.

 

“The PPA believes that a thorough review of the facts of the case will result in a favorable outcome for the thousands of Kentucky residents who play online poker.”

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