Kentucky Governor Trying to Block Your Access to Internet Poker

[SharBear613]

Kentucky Governor Trying to Block Your Access to Internet Poker ? Every U.S. Poker Player Should Voice Their Opinion

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is working overtime to outlaw online poker within his state.

If successful, he could ultimately take away YOUR right to play, too! Rather than proposing common sense legislation to license and regulate online poker, Gov. Beshear instead devised a plan to seize the domain names of many online gaming and poker websites, including every U.S. facing poker site! He has taken his prohibition plan to a Kentucky circuit court, hoping a judge will force his protectionist online poker prohibition on the people of Kentucky.

If Gov. Beshear successfully gains ownership of these domain names, this will have dire consequences nationwide for your right to play, as it would provide a road map for every other state to follow!

To learn more about this case in Kentucky [click here].

What Can I Do?

Over 1200 letters have been sent from PPA members in Kentucky already, but the fight has only just begun. Every poker player must speak out as well!

To take a stand, just click the button below to send Beshear your thoughts of this issue.

Just cut-and-paste the letter below, and either use as-is or edit to your liking. It takes only 60 seconds!

[Sample Letter]

Dear Governor Beshear,

I am writing to express my outrage over continuing judicial actions by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to seize domain names of Online Poker Sites, as this has the potential to affect MY right to play as well. Poker is not gambling, nor is it a crime. Poker is a game of skill that was unfairly and improperly included in this action, and I request the immediate removal of the poker-only sites from your list of domains to seize. It is foolhardy to claim that the state of Kentucky has the right to censor content on the World Wide Web. The actions you have initiated present a major assault on the freedom of the Internet and the First Amendment.

Please respond to this letter and let me know if you will exclude poker from your efforts. I will continue to watch your actions on this issue closely. I hope that I, along with my one million Poker Players Alliance members, can count on your support.

Your opinion matters. Your calls and emails matter.

The number of letters and calls from PPA members has already been highlighted by the Governor's office, but we must not let up the pressure.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...entuckyGov.jpg

[lkport]

how them horse racing revenues treating you hypocrite?

[SharBear613]

Associated Press
Attorneys fight against Ky. Web gambling lawsuit
By JOE BIESK 10.07.08, 5:49 PM ET

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Lawyers from around the country packed a Franklin County courtroom Tuesday asking a local circuit judge to dismiss Kentucky's attempt at blocking residents' access to numerous online gambling Web sites.

Gov. Steve Beshear's administration - which supports legalizing casino gambling in the state - says the online gambling Web sites are illegal and Kentuckians should not have access to them.

Attorneys opposing the state, however, say Kentucky doesn't have jurisdiction on a case that could have international ramifications.

"These domain names do not exist here," said Jerry Stouck, a Washington attorney representing the Interactive Gaming Council. "They can't be found in Kentucky and therefore they can't be seized here."

Attorneys for Kentucky have asked Judge Thomas Wingate to forfeit control to the state of 141 gambling related sites, some of the Internet's most popular. They claim the Web site names should be treated as illegal gambling devices and blocked from doing business in Kentucky.

Beshear, a Democrat, made his support for a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling a central focus of his campaign for governor last year. The governor tried and failed earlier this year to get the General Assembly to put a proposed amendment before voters.

Kentucky already allows gambling on horse racing and bingo, and has a state lottery.

Still, Beshear has called the Internet gambling sites targeted by his administration as "leeches on our communities" and acknowledged the move would protect the state's "signature industry."

Wingate said he would hope to have a ruling by next week.

Rob Slauenwhite, a 28-year-old Louisville resident, attended Tuesday's court proceedings wearing a shirt that advertised a Web site where he likes to play poker. Slauenwhite, who works two restaurant jobs and is studying for his master's degree, said he thinks the state is attempting to infringe on personal rights.

"It's just something I like to do in my home," Slauenwhite said, adding that he voted for Beshear because of his support for gambling. "I feel it's more of a state's invasion trying to take that away from me what I'm doing privately in my own home."

[SharBear613]

Kentucky Domain Seizures to go ahead, Big names for the Irish Winter Festival and more
2008-10-17
Barry Carter
www.pokernews.com

Kentucky Domain name seizure to go ahead

The big news today is of course the Kentucky Court hearing where Judge Thomas Wingate dismissed the objections brought by the 141 gambling domain names subject to seizure, which include Pokerstars and Full Tilt. Judge Wingate ruled that an internet domain name is a 'device' used in gambling, which is therefore illegal under Kentucky law.
The argument that the Kentucky Government do not have the jurisdiction to govern the internet was also quickly dismissed in the ruling, which stated ""We note that Opposing Groups and Lawyers argue any judicial interference of the Internet will create havoc. The doomsday argument does not ruffle the Court. The Internet, with all its benefits and advantages to modern day commerce and life, is still not above the law, whether on an international or municipal level."
Any websites that advertise or provide gambling information alone were not enough to establish presence in Kentucky and would have the seizure order affecting them rescinded at a later date.
The attempts by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) to get poker made exempt on the basis of the element of skill was quickly dismissed by Wingate. "In the end, no matter how skilful or cunning the player, who wins and who loses is determined by the hands the players hold" he stated (Seemingly oblivious to the concept known as 'bluffing').
If the correct safeguards to block Kentucky ISPs are put in place by the online poker rooms and gambling domains within 30 days, then the seizure order against them will be withdrawn. The final hearing is set for November 17th and it is not yet known whether an appeal will be made by the various parties affected.
We would like to remind you that the booming state owned Kentucky Horse Racing and Lottery Industry remain completely unaffected by this ruling. We will bring you more news on this story as it comes in.

[billmax07]

:mad: B.S.

[SharBear613]

Tell me about it. I never thought any judge would approve this. This is outrageous. Since when does local jurisdiction have control over the world wide web? I was shocked when the judge allowed this. Tell me that judge didn't get paid off! Bull shit is right!!!

[shamanalix]

The PPA will find a judge who is not prejudiced and bought off and get a retraining order against the edict taking effect. Meanwhile, a boycott of Kentucky and all things related to the Blueass State should be started, both under PPA and grassroots initiatives. The Kentucky gov is just doing it for the publicity and to pump his chief religious-radical-right supporters/backers; he doesn't really care if he wins or loses, just that he gets attention. And they don't care about right or wrong or anyone's feelings, just making everyone bow down under their thumbs. Hopefully his wrongdoing here and elsewhere get publicized by some non-bought-off media and he and his Nazi friends are impeached. What a shameful State. I will never go there or wager on anything Churchill Downs again until this jerky politician is gone.