Poker News Daily has learned that Judge Thomas Wingate will issue a historic ruling in the Commonwealth of Kentucky next Wednesday, October 15th. A formal hearing was held in a Franklin County courtroom this morning to determine the future of 141 internet gambling domain names in the Commonwealth. At the end of the proceedings, Judge Wingate stated that he would need one week to review both sides of the case and plans to announce his final ruling on October 15th.
In a case that has attracted the attention of nearly every major industry organization, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear took the unprecedented step of seizing 141 internet gambling domains, including those belonging to several major online poker rooms such as Bodog, Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and PokerStars. For everyone involved, it’s a complex debate that centers on whether the Commonwealth has jurisdiction to seize domain names located in cyberspace and if those URLs can be forfeited under the grounds that they are a “gambling device” according to Kentucky state law.
Rich Muny, the Poker Players Alliance State Director for Kentucky who was in the courtroom, told Poker News Daily, “I’ve seen Judge Wingate twice. Nothing of what I’ve seen lends credence to bias one way or another. He seems like he’s gathering up all of the information that he can.” No further hearings are scheduled prior to his planned ruling on the case on October 15th.
Muny estimated that about 20 lawyers in total were present on Tuesday. He told Poker News Daily, “Our side made a big deal about TwinSpires.com not being targeted. The site is fully available in Kentucky.” According to its website, TwinSpires.com is licensed in Oregon, but owned by Kentucky-based Churchill Downs Incorporated and recently completed a major promotion with poker pros Phil Hellmuth and Robert Williamson III.
TwinSpires was not among the 141 internet gambling domain names seized as part of Governor Beshear’s actions. That prompted many in the courtroom to question why TwinSpires.com and other online horse racing wagering sites were left off. Ironically, TwinSpires’ website claims horse racing and poker are one in the same: “Just like poker, you are not playing against the house. You are playing against the rest of the people wagering on racing; the better your strategy, the more you can win.”
Jim Waters, who is the Director of Policy and Communications for the Bluegrass Institute, commented, “The Governor tried to slip this upon the Kentucky people, but failed when our coalition stood up in Frankfort and openly opposed using the force of government to trample on the rights and liberties of the people.” Waters stated that he did not expect a final ruling in the case to be handed down today.
The Poker Players Alliance has also been an integral part in the fight for internet gambling in Kentucky. At its forefront is John Pappas, its Executive Director. In a taxi on the way back to the airport, Pappas told us, “The PPA wasn’t given an opportunity to present our arguments today. This case is going to be won on the legal arguments, not on skill versus luck. We feel comfortable with other arguments presented today, including the nature of domain names as well as jurisdiction. Those should win the day.”
We’ll have full updates on the fallout from the hearing as well as Judge Wingate’s ruling right here on Poker News Daily.