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.’
Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com
