Kentucky Gambling Domain Case Update

12/17/09 - The Kentucky state government's 'appeal against an appeal' on its so far unsuccessful and long-running attempt to seize international domain names threw up a new legal wheeze this week as the state's outsourced legal eagles tried to find a fresh justification for their seizure attempts.

The lawyers have asked the Franklin County Circuit court to add unspecified names of US citizens and companies to a lawsuit that seeks the forfeiture of 141 Internet domain names.

Kentucky’s effort to seize those Web site names, all related to Internet gambling, had been blocked by a January 2009 decision from the Kentucky Court of Appeals, in favor of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) and other groups, including the Interactive Gaming Council and Sportsbook.com, representing the domain owners.

By doing so the state hopes to strengthen its claims to have jurisdiction, which have so far not been successful.

Though the new motion was made public by Kentucky’s lawyers, none of the names of the US citizens or companies to be added to the seizure effort were revealed, despite requests by attorneys acting for iMEGA.

A decision from the Kentucky Supreme Court is pending after the state’s lawyers challenged the Appeals Court verdict. Oral arguments from lawyers representing both sides of the dispute were heard by the Court in October of this year .

“In the course of the litigation and the Commonwealth’s continuing investigation, the Commonwealth has learned the identity of certain entities and individuals involved in internet gambling operations, some of whom are U.S. citizens,” read the motion from Kentucky’s lawyers. “The Commonwealth asks for leave to amend its Complaint to add causes of action against these individuals and entities in personam.”

Joe Brennan Jr, chairman of iMEGA said: “It’s odd that Kentucky’s lawyers would try something like this at such a late date, since we’re expecting a decision on this matter from the State Supreme Court any day now. It seems like a ‘Hail Mary pass’ to me.”

“We’re unaware of any ‘investigations’ by the state attorney-general or law enforcement in Kentucky," Brennan added. "The [Kentucky] attorney-general himself asked to be dismissed from this suit last year. And there are no indictments or convictions that would enable Kentucky’s lawyers to add the names of individual US citizens to their seizure action.

“If anything, this last-minute gambit highlights our argument that Kentucky and the lower court provided no due process to the domain owners, since they seem bent on continuing down that path even now.”

The new motion called for a hearing on January 20th, 2010, in Franklin Circuit Court, before Judge Thomas Wingate - the same judge who issued the original seizure orders for the 141 domain names during a secret court hearing with Kentucky’s lawyers in September 2008, where the owners of the domain names were not informed of or given the opportunity to be represented by their own counsel.

The new motion can be read here: http://www.imega.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/motion-for-leave-to-join-additional-parties-and-to-amend-complaint.pdf

Oink Country Love Slot Launches - Oink Country Love will have players tapping their feet to the country beat with the lovable Oink Bros, Willy and Chancho, who are trying to win over the heart of Miss Southern Charm in this five by three reel, 45-line online slot.

Tim Chung Wins MPNPT Manchester - The 288-runner £550 MPNPT Manchester Main Event today crowned its champion, awarding the bulk of the £150,000 total prizepool to the nine players surviving after two days of tournament poker at the Grosvenor Casino.

MPNPT Manchester Day 2 - Day 2 of the £550 MPNPT Manchester Main Event saw 60 Day 1 survivors (from a total of 288 entries) and three intrepid last-minute registrants sit down to play to the final table.

Day 1B MPN Poker Tour Manchester - Day 1B of the £550 MPNPT Manchester Main Event saw the field rise to 285, as players took full advantage of the whole-day re-entry period.

Day 1A MPNPT Manchester - The £150,000 guaranteed MPNPT Manchester kicked off today in style – 74 poker players from all over Europe arriving at the Grosvenor Casino to contend the first of two starting days

Kung Fu Rooster Slot Goes Live - Celebrate Chinese New Year - 2017 Year of the Rooster. It's time to sweep away any ill-fortune and make way for incoming good luck, with this exciting 12 lines slot game.

Sensational Sixes Slot Goes Live - Light up Icons like BAR's, black spades, red hearts, blue diamonds, and green clubs. The best part of Sensational Sixes are the three wild icons, for 2X, 4X, and 6X multipliers!

3 New Betsoft Slots - 3 new Betsoft slot Games were also added this week to most online casinos allowing US players.

2017 Bodog Super Millions Poker Open - The first events on the 105-tournament schedule have already been completed; there are three more tourneys on Thursday’s schedule, with a total of $34,000 in guaranteed prize money waiting to be won.

Pokerstars Pulls Out Of Coloumbia - Pokerstars Has taken the decision to cease offering real money services to players located in, playing from or resident within Colombia, effective from the 17th of July 2017.