Weblog
19/11: Judges Halt Kentucky’s Lawsuit on Online Gambling
Here is maybe some good news for a change, on the Kentucky Ban on online gambling. It has been halted until the appellate judges hear both sides and make a ruling.FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Court of Appeals yesterday blocked Franklin Circuit Court from proceeding with Gov. Steve Beshear's lawsuit against 141 gambling Web sites until appellate judges hear oral arguments and rule on the matter.
Internet gambling and domain name trade groups asked the Court of Appeals to intervene after Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ruled last month that he has the right to decide whether control of the Web sites must be forfeited to Kentucky.
The order issued yesterday prohibits Wingate from holding a forfeiture hearing scheduled for Dec. 3.
Oral arguments are scheduled for Dec. 12 before the Court of Appeals.
For the whole story:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081115/NEWS01/811150457/1008/NEWS01
We will hope that they will throw the ban out all together. Stay tuned as it happens!
05/11: Bans Extended to Kentucky’s Neighboring States
If you live in a State neighboring Kentucky, you will be required to show proof of residence. This is an added burden on everyone but is for the safety of Jackpot Factory Group, powered by Microgaming.November 4, 2008 (InfoPowa News) -- The attempt by the state of Kentucky to hijack the international domains of online gambling companies continued to be a source of inconvenience and irritation to U.S. players this week as the Jackpot Factory group extended software provider Microgaming's ban on Kentucky players to embrace neighboring states pending proof of residence.
Last month Microgaming casinos started excluding Kentucky players from licensee sites following a shocking ruling by a Kentucky county court that global domains could be seized if owner companies did not exclude Kentucky players from gambling websites.
The Jackpot Factory group, one of Microgaming's larger licensees, emailed players in states bordering Kentucky this week, telling them that due to recent changes in Kentucky legislation, as of Thursday, November 6th, it would temporarily block accounts of players whose IP addresses trace to a neighboring state.
Players can reinstate their accounts by producing proof of ID and residence in a neighboring state. Residents of Kentucky remain blocked.
Players with enquiries or problems were invited to contact support@jackpotfactory.com.
The domain seizure cases in Kentucky have caused a major international uproar on jurisdictional, legal, and constitutional grounds and are currently the subject of appeals by individual companies, trade associations and Net Neutrality bodies. Merge Poker Network and Microgaming have both instituted precautionary bans on Kentucky players until the local court debacle can be resolved through Superior Court litigation.
20/10: Kentucky Judge Seizure Order
This is not good news for the players in Kentucky.A circuit court judge for Franklin County, Ky., modified a seizure order today to allow online gambling companies 30 days to install software blocking Kentucky citizens from access to their sites.
This afternoon Judge Thomas D. Wingate refused to dismiss a case against 141 online gambling domain names being sued by the Commonwealth of Kentucky for offering gambling services to citizens of the commonwealth.
However, he ruled that the defendants have 30 days to demonstrate that they have blocked access to Kentucky from their sites. If the defendants do not comply, the original seizure order will remain in effect, and Kentucky will have the power to take control of the domain names, according to court documents.
Last Thursday, Judge Wingate heard arguments from lawyers and associations representing the online gambling industry in the high-profile case, brought by Kentucky in late August. Judge Wingate ordered the original seizure and forfeiture of the 141 domain names belonging to online gambling sites.
Judge Wingate's ruling today also took away associational standing from groups like the Interactive Gaming Council and Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association, according to court documents.
The associations from now on, considered 'friends of the court,' which means they still file certain motions, but they're not treated as 'parties' and thus cannot seek substantive relief, or do much besides present legal argument, Lawrence G. Walters, an Internet gambling attorney and partner at Weston, Garrou, Walters & Mooney, explained to IGN via telephone.
Mr. Walters, who is representing GoldenPalace.com in the case, said for the domain-name defendants without legal representation, it will be up to them to represent themselves and to show proof that they have blocked access to Kentucky -- if they so choose.
Mr. Walters said the real loser in today's ruling is the plaintiff's attorneys, who were working on a 25 percent contingency basis and asking for millions of dollars in damages on behalf of Kentucky. Judge Wingate awarded no monetary settlement, and his ruling offers a return of the domain names for free if access by Kentuckians is blocked.
Judge Wingate has scheduled a forfeiture hearing for Nov. 17, following the 30-day deadline given to the operators to block Kentucky.
To read the Judges Opinion and order, copy and paste in web browser:
http://www.igamingnews.com/articles/files/081016KentuckyRuling.pdf
16/10: Kentucky Gambling Web Site Case is Proceeding
The Judge in the Kentucky case on seizing 141 websites has today ruled to allow the case to proceed.Here is this afternoon’s press release!
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A Franklin County Circuit Court judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to block access to online casinos in Kentucky.
Judge Thomas Wingate said in an order Thursday afternoon that he will hear arguments on Nov. 17 before deciding whether to give Kentucky state government control of the domain names of 140 of the Internet's most popular gambling Web sites.
Wingate said online casinos that don't block access to their Web sites in Kentucky could be ordered to forfeit their domain names.
Gov. Steve Beshear's administration filed the lawsuit. Beshear supports legalizing casino gambling in a state that already allows betting on horse racing, bingo and a state lottery.
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=9190758&nav=menu31_2
13/10: Kentucky Ruling Expected this Week
Judge Thomas Wingate heard from all sides on this issue of the seizures of 141 domains last week. After hearing hours of arguments, Wingate said he would render his ruling on Oct. 15th.John Pappas, the executive director of the Poker Players Alliance stated the Lawyers representing the 141 domains did a very good job of pointing out issues and laws that showed the Commonwealth did not have the authority to do this. He also stated that he believed that there was a sense from the judge that he fully understood the impact of his order.
The PPA says poker should not be included in any of this since it was a game of skill, and not gambling.
Jennifer Brislin, the communications director for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the government stated: "It was an educational process and good listening session for the judge. We have a very strong case and nothing that happened yesterday did anything to diminish that.”
This weeks ruling should be about these issues. And the Judge may lay out a plan for going forward, We will have to wait and see.
08/10: Manila Poker Event for 2009
The Asian Poker Tour is very happy to announce the first Manila Event for 2009. All of you poker fans get your poker faces on and prepare for this exciting event!!October 8, 2008 (MANILA, PHILIPPINES) – Having made its mark on Asia and players around the world with two highly successful poker events in 2008, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) has announced the first event for its 2009 tournament schedule.
APT Philippines 2009, the Manila leg of next year’s Tour, will be held at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati, Philippines, from January 27 to February 1, 2009. Buy-in is set at USD $2,500. Interested parties may contact their local or online poker room for information on scheduled satellites.
This year’s APT Philippines event, held at the same venue last May, attracted 316 poker players from around the world – a number that the APT is looking to surpass at next year’s event. It featured a USD $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and had various attractions such as Asia’s first 13-card poker tournament. The main event was won by Australian poker pro David Saab, who walked away with the USD $280,000 top prize.
APT Philippines was followed by an even more successful APT Macau tournament, which was held in late August. The event featured an even bigger guaranteed prize pool of USD $1,500,000 and was won by U.S.-based Yevgeniy Timoshenko.
The Tour will feature at least four major events in 2009. Further announcements regarding this year and next year’s events will be made by the APT next week.
Chris Parker, CEO of the APT, said that the Tour has big plans and that he is looking forward to next year:
“The APT has already held two major events this year – APT Philippines and APT Macau. After consultation with players, online partners, and sponsors, a comprehensive schedule is now being planned for 2009 to successfully meet the needs of all concerned. We are looking forward to enhancing poker’s presence in Asia.”
For more information contact:
Melissa Ross
Lyceum Media for Asian Poker Tour
melissa@lyceummedia.com
I am sure everyone is looking forward to this event. Good Luck to all and most of all have fun!
27/09: Kentucky Online Gambling Case Continued
Even though Kentucky wants to know who owns the Domains of the online gambling sites, attorneys refuse to give the names.A Chicago attorney representing the state, Robert Foote, said: “no one has standing” to appear before the court until a person or corporation is named.”
“A domain name has no right to have a lawyer, only a corporation or person can have a lawyer,” Foote said. “And no one here is going to tell you they represent anyone.”
To read the full story on this update:
http://www.newsandtribune.com/statenews/kentuckystatehouse_story_270181412.html
Stay tuned as this develops!
26/09: Amicus Brief Submitted by PPA in Kentucky Seizure
In a hearing that started today the PPA Submitted a “amicus curiae”, which means friend of the court. It gives in detail several points as to why the seizure should be overturned.Poker is a game of skill, and is not considered gambling according to the Kentucky Laws, and the PPA is pointing this along with several other points in today’s hearings.
Poker players in Kentucky and the PPA are not taking the action by Governor Beshear and the court lightly.
To read all about this and the other points the PPA are making:
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2008/09/ppa-files-amicus-brief-kentucky-poker-domain-seizure.htm
How many more of trying to take our freedom’s will there be? The question is yet to be seen. We will let you know what happens in court, as we get it.
24/09: Kentucky Seizes Poker Sites
This is just another way for the States to try and get their way to try and stop us from enjoying the internet.FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Steve Beshear announced yesterday that he is trying to shut down illegal Internet gambling in Kentucky, though some industry experts say his chances of success aren't good.
Beshear said at a news conference that illegal and unregulated gambling Web sites -- many of which operate from other countries -- are "leeches on our communities" and unfairly undermine Kentucky's horse-racing industry.
In what he called a potentially groundbreaking case, Beshear said he filed a civil suit last week in Franklin Circuit Court against 141 Internet domain names, such as pokerstars.com and fulltiltpoker.com.
The governor said Kentucky law allows the state to seize devices used in illegal gambling -- in this case, the domain names.
According to Beshear, the suit asks the court to force the sites to block access by Kentucky users or relinquish control of their domain names.
After the suit was filed, the administration received an order from Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate requiring the immediate transfer of the domain names to the state. After the state's suit was filed, Wingate sealed it for undisclosed reasons, said Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton.
Wingate scheduled a hearing for Thursday on whether the domain names must be forfeited to the state.
By seizing those Internet names, the Beshear administration said, the state can require the casino operators to block their sites from being accessed in Kentucky.
But David Stewart, a Washington, D.C., attorney who is an expert in gambling law, doubted that Beshear's strategy will work.
"This is -- forgive me for being blunt -- a stunt," Stewart said.
Other states, such as New York, have tried to prosecute operators of illegal gambling sites to little avail, he said.
But because most of the Internet gambling operations are based in foreign countries, it is difficult to eliminate them, Stewart said.
Some of the sites are:
• AbsolutPoker.com
• BodogLife.com
• CakePoker.com
• DoylesRoom.com
• FullTiltPoker.com
• MicroGaming.com
• PlayersOnly.com
• PokerStars.com
• PokerTime.com
• UltimateBet.com
• Wsex.com
Read whole story:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/NEWS01/809230426/1008/NEWS01
For the PPA’s responce to this:
http://pokerplayersalliance.org/press-releases/2008/09/23/press-release-ppa-statement-on-kentucky-seizure-of-poker-websites-092308/
Stand up for your rights to do what you want to do in your own homes!
26/08: The celebrities hit town in force at the APT Macau
After an excellent Olympics in Beijing, I have turned my attention back to poker. My thoughts are still in China, this time, Macau, China. The prestigious Galaxy StarWorld Casino Resort and Hotel is the place to be. As I type, some of the greatest poker players of our time will be arriving to prepare for the APT Macau. The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is the original and largest poker tour in Asia. The $1.5 million Guaranteed event will ensure a talented field.3.30pm, today is the official opening of the APT Poker Room, Level 2.
4.30pm, Doyle Brunson who is commonly known as the ‘Godfather of Poker’ will be there for book signing. He will intermingle with the poker fans until 6pm. Then he must dash off to prepare for the Charity Celebrity Poker Challenge, hosted by Matt Savage, one of the top poker tournament directors.
The proceeds of this event will go to a group called the Caritas De Macau. They are a social organization set up for the people of Macau to help them financially, morally and spiritually.
Boxing fans are in for a treat, Manny Pacquiao; world champion of four different weight classes will be playing. He may have picked up the poker bug during his last visit to Las Vegas in June, where he defeated David Diaz to lift the WBC world lightweight title, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. A bit of advice, if you find yourself playing at his table and unleash a horrifying bad beat on him, be nice about it. Boxers can box, poker players can play poker. Some poker players consider trash talk as part of their strategy. Just remember, Manny Pacquiao was voted the best pound for pound boxer in the world by Ring Magazine, or you may return home with a vague recollection of your memorable trip to Macau.
The charity event has also attracted other top stars including musician Renee Dai, movie star Michael Wong, and commentator Angie Mak. Jam packed with glamour, Miss Hong Kong winner Tracy Ip, models Wylien Chiu, Natalie Ng, Cha Cha, Janice Man, Erica Yuen, and cult glamour model Tila Tequila will be there. Where the ladies go, multiple WSOP champion Doyle Brunson goes, so I'm sure he will sneak a spot at some of their tables.
The Asian Poker Tours CEO, Chris Parker stated:
“We are delighted to bring the APT to Macau and really excited about offering Asia’s largest ever guaranteed prize pool. The charity poker challenge will be good fun, and, most importantly, it is an aid of a brilliant charity in Caritas De Macau.”
“I’m looking forward to Manny Pacquiao going head-to-head with Doyle Brunson. Manny never goes down but will we see the flyweight king get knocked out by the heavyweight poker legend? That said, perhaps both will get distracted by all the models at the table!”
The Celebrity Poker Challenge is not the only place you can rub shoulders with the above mentioned celebrities. The famous Whisky Bar, StarWorld’s, is the venue for a post Poker Challenge party.
Online poker sites such as partypoker.com and virgingames.com held low buy in online satellites’ to qualify for the APT Macau. Although the qualifiers have now closed, you can still book your spot at the tables if you can afford the USD $5000 + $300 tournament entry fee. The event will have a staggered start. The first group of players will start play on the 27th, and the second group on the 28th August.
The field will be packed with top, recognizable professional poker players such as 10 times WSOP winner Johnny Chan. Interestingly, Chan was the inspiration behind Ed Norton and Matt Damon's character's in the acclaimed 1998 poker movie ‘Rounders.’ Doyle Brunson's son Todd, a world poker champ in his own right will be there. Also, the APT Manila champ David Saab and other high stakes poker players Huck Seed, Mel Judah, Kenny Tran, Liz Lieu, Quinn Do, Steve Sung, John Juanda, J.C Tran and Nam Le, will all pleasure us with their presence.
The man of the moment Michael Phelps has been offered a free invitation to take part in what should be a superbly organized event. Anyone who has watched the Beijing Olympics will know the name Michael Phelps. At the tender age of 23, he is already the most successful Olympian in history. He may be superhuman but still loves to sit back and play a game of poker. Who knows what this guy is capable of?
I love my crazy bets, for the next Olympics held in London I have a $1 bet that Michael Phelps will win gold at the mixed synchronized swimming. 500/1 odds seems a steal with his immense talent and versatility. Although I am worried, if he adopts the perfect poker face instead of keeping with the synchronized smile, the judges may mark him down.
Friday is marked for a mouth watering cash game. If you are one of the worlds best poker players and can afford the HK$1million buy-in, don’t miss it. Unfortunately, I fail miserably on both counts, so that leaves me on the sidelines. For now, I'll have to content myself by watching the action unfold!
