<H2 jQuery1222528466198="5">Kentucky commandeers world's most popular gambling sites</H2>

• <LI id=track-this-topic>26th September 2008 01:57 GMT</LI>

The state of Kentucky has seized control of some of the world's most popular gambling domain names courtesy of a state judge who issued a secret ruling last week ordering registrars to transfer 141 internet addresses to the state's top law enforcement official.

The order (PDF) by Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate applies to sites including absolutepoker.com, goldenpalace.com, and ub.com. The websites, many of which are operated outside US borders, stand accused of illegally making their services available to Kentucky citizens. Already, whois records list goldencasino.com as the rightful property of J. Michael Brown, the Justice and Public Safety secretary who filed the lawsuit. At time of writing, goldencasino.com and the handful of other affected websites we checked appeared to be offering unfettered online gambling services.

The episode is the latest reminder of the hazards that can visit firms that do business on the internet, a borderless marketplace where controversial content or services are subject to the most restrictive or repressive territory's rules and mores. In years past, states such as Missouri have also succeeded in shutting down online casinos even though they had no clear nexus to the state. And in 2003, the US Department of Justice wrestled away the rights to ISOnews.com after it posted information on pirated software and hardware.

We're not sure what the difference is between a state like Kentucky reaching half way across the globe to shut down a gambling site and, say, a government like China's trying to silence websites that violate laws forbidding dissent policies toward Tibet. Think the comparison is extreme? Then consider this: In patting himself on the back for taking action against the websites, Brown waxed hyperbolic on the perils of online gambling, saying here it is "tantamount to a virtual home invasion."

We're not the only ones made uncomfortable by the action.

"I'm nervous about the fact we have these very loose norms of when activity taken outside of a state is causing harm in a state," said Eric Goldman, a professor of law and Santa Clara University. "We're way too inclusive in punishing people for out-of-state behavior."

According to this article from Gambling911, the state's motion to seize control of the domain names was filed under seal and a separate hearing originally scheduled for Thursday was to take place behind closed doors. The hearing, which concerns the forfeiture of the domain names, has been rescheduled for Friday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Beshear's office couldn't say whether the action was filed under seal or whether the hearing would be open to the public.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09...omain_seizure/

this is just futher proof of how dumb Americans are.

surely there is something going on in this guys state that is more important than gambling. We as adults should be able to do what we want with our money even if you dont agree with it. nobody is stopping gambling in the lottery or horse racing. thats gambling. if i want to go get a pile of money shit on it and then light it on fire its none of your fucking business stay the fuck out of my house. i dont need your morals or what you believe is right and correct to be dumped on me. As for kids getting on with their parents cc. That is the parents responsibility, not yours. when my kid breaks his foot playing outside are you gonna foot the bill. i dont think so. so stop feeding that bullshit about the kids. Oh yeah the terrorists laundering their money. Why is it that whenever a politician wants to pass something it always terror this or 9/11 that, its for national security. please, get the fuck off your high horse of morals because as a politician you are definitely not as clean as you say you are.

OHHH MY.....This is insane,what on earth is happening to the U.S.A.? That we allow one person to do this !!!!! I am sorry Kentucy that this is allowed !!! Were is our FREE AMERICA ????? Concerned Granma

Well the reason why Kentucky did this is because horse racing is a game of skill and poka is just gambling.

Well, Im from Kentucky and on the news last night they had said that people had been recieving notice that they would no longer be allowed to play. I'm still standing noone has contacted me in any way.

This is what we get for electing a Gov. Whose whole campaign revolved around legalizing casino's in our state and then those that oppsed it. Guess we now see who won out.

I just dont see how anyone can block me from having access to anything that I pay for they are not paying for my internet service, I pay my freakin state tax to these idiots. Im not gonna drive 225miles to Louisville to bet on a freakin horse that may or may not have more dope in it than the hills I live in!!

Why are they not out blocking the Porn sites and the sites that use and abuse children, I think this is a subject that needs to be dealt with and abolished!!

It blows my mind that a government that was born out of a fight to "free our people from tyrannical oppression" has now seen fit to allow its states to literally control what I do in my home. It is my understanding that we have inalienable rights that extend up to the point on which they infringe upon the right of another citizens same rights. I can not see how it can be proven "beyond the shadow of reasonable doubt" that i have infringed on someone else's right. It anger's me to think that every day murders and rapist are released on "technicalities" because we strive to protect the integrity of our systems of law... yet a governor can take it upon himself to interpret the law and act in a tyrannical manner. where are our checks and balances? the only way we are ever going to win this is to fight, and the casino's have Deep pockets so its going to take action from EVERYONE. It has to now be obvious that the people who are really behind all of this are the lobbyist for brick and mortar casino's (including horse betting). as a side note, I fail to see how poker is gambling and the state lotteries are not... don't believe thats addictive? check out 7-11 the night of a drawing.