Thoughts on Kentucky’s Online Gambling Site Ban

As many of you may know, this past Thursday Kentucky Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate ruled that over 141 internet domains could be seized by Commonwealth of Kentucky in connection to online gambling. Sites such as Fulltiltpoker.com, Doylesroom.com, and Pokerstars.com must now either forfeit their domains or be seized by the state of Tennessee.

Micrograming Networks announced today that they are going to start blocking IP addresses that originate from 13 different states, which includes KY. Doyles Room is one of the sites that will now be blocking Ip addresses.

First, I do not agree with the Kentucky judge in regards to agreeing to seize the internet domains. While people in KY can access the sites, it is still the choice of the individual whether or not to follow the law. The site is totally legal in many countries and KY is trying to challenge their right to run a legal operation. With that being said, if KY wanted to force the sites to block IP addresses like what Microgaming is suggesting, I can see some basis for this action as in many states, casino gambling is illegal.

If this ruling is not overturned in a higher court, I do see this ruling as paving the way for other states and even the federal government to start taking steps to shut down online poker sites. The UIGEA already has hurt online gaming for many sites and now with this ruling in KY, new ground could be potentially broken in the battle over player’s rights to play.

I am of the same mindset of many players across the country. The online gaming industry as a whole, including poker, should be regulated just the live gaming industry is. However, I think that it should be done at the state level as it is done with live gaming. In my home state of Virginia, casinos are illegal. If the Attorney General wanted to sue to have Full Tilt and others to block IP addresses citing the fact that casinos and card rooms in VA are illegal, I can support that. However, I cannot support seizing the domain as Full Tilt is totally legal in many countries across the world.

If the Kentucky ruling is upheld, I would not be surprised if other states were to follow suit and do the same. If you are a member of an online site and this ruling is upheld, keep a watch on your state’s lawmakers in the event they try and pull the same stunt.