PPA Disappointed in Ruling in KY Domain Name Seizure Case
WASHINGTON, DC. (October 16, 2008) –The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide and more than 16,000 members in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, today expressed its disappointment in the ruling by the Franklin Circuit Court that states poker is not a game of skill and maintained the Commonwealth’s right to seize the domain names of Internet gambling websites if these sites do not “geo-block†access for residents of Kentucky.
“Clearly, we believe the judge in this case got it wrong,†said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA. “First of all, we strongly disagree with Judge Wingate’s ruling that poker is not a game of skill. As demonstrated in the amicus brief we filed, skill plays an essential role in being a successful poker player. Additionally, we believe that by confirming Governor Beshear’s actions, the court has set a dangerous precedent for censorship of the Internet. Today’s ruling is a big step backward for both personal rights and Internet freedom.â€
Wow friggin’ wow … sorry, trying to reign in the visceral reaction, but that’s all I can say the more I learn about what’s going on in Kentucky, and Gov. Steve Beshear’s intent on taking unprecedented legal action against online poker (and other online gambling) companies. Don’t think he’s serious — that this is an effort on which he’s willing to stake his political career? The state is already claiming to have seized legal control over FullTiltPoker.com and 140 other sites … and we all remember what happened to Bodog.com the last time American courts got into it with ICANN over issues of not-so-eminent domain.
Have a listen to Beshear’s declaration of war against an industry near and dear to so many of our hearts, and decide for yourself if you think he’s bluffing:
Steve Beshear vs. Online Poker (right-click to save/download)
Kentucky governor on the need for hostile domain takeover Sep 22, 2008
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(5 min 29 sec)
Prediction: If this case makes it into court in any non-frivolous way, it will end up in the Supreme Court. With or without online poker as a defendant, Kentucky is challenging what government can and can’t do in terms of policing/taxing the internet, issues of states rights vs. federal law, and matters of international treaty and internet jurisdiction to boot.
The governor wants to erect a massive force field around the entire state to protect its citizens (and visitors) from electronically accessing the evils of untaxed gambling.
Yikes, this is some pathetic/scary shit. Not because he’s declaring sites we know and love as criminal enterprises, but because the guv wants to control its citizens’ private web access!
Um, hello, communism? What makes it worse is that he seems to be doing it on behalf of the brick-and-mortar casino industry … dude, I know you guys are slow in Kentucky, but the idea that online play hurts as opposed to helps casinos went dead in like 2006. No details on how one would actually block the internet within state lines … I suppose you can force your cable and phone providers to behave in certain ways … but, um, out-of-town cell phones maybe? Seriously, ‘Tucky-Guv-Dude, are you really that out of touch with the world/American Constitution?
The 100th episode of Perspectives Weekly looks at the passage of the Barney Frank Bill this week, and what that means to online gambling. Plus helping hurricane victims, Bodog rumors, and other industry news …
Just to clarify for some who are writing in a bit confused … the room that got robbed/shot-up the other week was not the same place that got raided by Arlington police most recently …
That raided place was the Longhorn Room — similar neighborhood, I believe, but not certain, as South Arlington isn’t exactly small. I know it’s sometimes hard to differentiate between cops and robbers in these cases.
BTW, why does it always seem that robberies follow raids almost immediately? You’d think it would be the other way around.
In this week’s episode of Perspectives Weekly, J. Todd tries to get to the brass tacks of what’s going down with Bodog — and he confirms that as of right now, American players can’t get their money out (and the APCW is temporarily withholding any support of the site). But this is not a matter of greedy-corp malfeasance, Todd explains … but rather a situation created by the US Government’s seizure of $24 million from Bodog bank accounts and pressure put on American payment processors.
Here’s the story from the McAllen Monitor about the assistant principal who got busted running weekly 5-table tourneys in his house.(Thanks, Carlos, for the link!) Man, naturally I’d be inclined to defend the likes of Jose Luis Esquivel like all get out … but really, the ridiculous neighborhood parking situation, and the two small bags of cocaine … just makes matters worse. Kinda takes away the educator’s argument that poker might be good for kids. And makes me wonder if this was less a case of a good poker room bumpin’ uglies with the overzealous law and more a matter of man who doesn’t really know much about running a poker room and living off a public high-school salary getting addicted to a growing rake.
Would have to see Esquivel’s blind structure, however, before we can really pass judgment on him.
You can see why raiding a poker room seems like such a win-win for the po-po. It’s such a low-risk operation, the busted citizens have little to complain about when they get to settle for an eensy-weensy ticket, and — thanks to asset forfeiture laws — the cops are virtually guaranteed to walk away with some cash for PD coffers.
But a case moving through the system in Seward, Pennsylvania (a rural community outside of Pittsburgh) is challenging this legal MO (which, personally, I think could sell very well on an infomercial: “For three payments of $79.95, I’ll share with you the ‘Dallas Poker Raid Secrets’ that are helping police department vice units all across the country increase usable revenue by tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands a year!”).
Here’s a video of the bust in Mission, TX … clearly a residential home with a weekly tourney that may or may not shoulda been shut down. (Don’t shoot me for saying this, but I gotta think the non-poker residents have a case to be made on parking issues alone.) The news report does not mention, however, that one of the organizers is apparently an assistant principal, which adds to the local hubbub, but of course makes no difference in whatever case will eventually be plead down to a micro-misdemeanor as the cops enjoy the fruits of their confiscated cash.
Also, notice the weakness of the quotes this TV reporter had to choose from when it comes to getting that “other” side of the story, the part where residents now feel safer because the dastardly gamblers have been quelled. (I also love how you can still hear the chips clicking even a few seconds after the police break in.)
I hate that this vid is a commercial for a new online poker site, but love the short-film itself … poignant, and funny … and hence I share it with you:
Perhaps inspired by the amount of money police forces take in from poker raids, police in Port Arthur, Texas, raided an internet cafe that was allowing patrons to gamble online — the first bust of its kind in our nation’s history. In a way this would be awesome if it forced the UIGEA into court — but we know the routine … plea down to an irrelevant if not disappearable criminal charge … shut down the operation and make the purveyors sign over any confiscated cash.
All I can say is wow. Can’t believe I didn’t think of opening such a jointI guess you can’t really have multiaccounting problems with online slots Wonder if federal authorities realize the UIGEA caused this, and if Texas officials see the clear citizen demand to expand gambling options in the Lone Star State. Interestingly enough, police say the problem wasn’t internet gambling per se — they don’t have much problem with it done in private — but with the public nature of a business set up to help senior citizens circumvent the banking nuisances created by the UIGEA.
Tomatoes/Tomahtoes, really … because you can arguably say police simply saw it as an opportunity to claim moral righteousness while adding to its asset forfeiture stacks.
photo: Benjo / via Pauly Online phenom-turned-live-action-threat Gobboboy makes peace with Howard Lederer at the PPA Booth in the Amazon hallway.
Of the many groups with a presence at the 2008 WSOP, the Poker Players Alliance is doing its best to let the amateur players who flock here know not only that their voice is relevant, but also that there is a plan of action in motion to, essentially, allow online poker sites to advertise with a dot-com. OK, there’s far more to it than that … but establishing poker’s political presence is important — and because it ain’t easy to become the NRA without something akin to the Second Amendment behind you, the PPA is spearheading the efforts both on the grassroots level as well as the important behind-the-scenes ass-kissingpalm-greasing politicking in Washington DC.
To help explain the cause and sign up new members, the PPA has poker pros at its booth daily. Click below to read the full press release about these meet-n-greets designed to get everyone on the same team.
Hurst police said they found two dozen people inside the home, which had tables, dealers and even a banker, and was set up to look like Las Vegas.
You know, Pokerati used to defend the police for just doing their jobs, and reminding poker players of that. But c’mon … SWAT teams? That’s so 2006. When you want to shut down a game next time … here’s a hint … try just knocking on the door(s). I know I know … I’m just a blogger and don’t understand police operations — so maybe you can explain to me how, using knowledge gained from your undercover, a knock on the door combined with a marked squad car in the driveway wouldn’t stop any poker crimes from being committed.
And while we’re bitchin’ about the money … yo local news media … when “dozens” of players gather with a sum total of a few thousand dollars … since you’re not going to really follow the money to look into what police are really up to with it, at least do the math and realize that this is not “high stakes.” You should be journalistically ashamed of yourselves for being so careless/sensational with your word choice.
For the rest of you, check out the comments on the Channel 5 story. At the time of this posting, they’re running 11-1 in favor of poker and against the police:
A poker room in Hurst (a suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth) got raided Thursday or Friday night. I have few details — perhaps some Pokeratizens can fill us in on the game action, weapons in play, arrests made, etc.? — but according to my source:
Channel 4 said it was a gambling club.
Channel 5 said it was a poker club.
Oops, while rambling on in the previous post, i forgot to share with you the email Alfonse D’Amato sent out today that made me start writing it. He makes some good points while, of course, also trying to give away a seat to the WSOP. My one question for the for-sale figurehead retired senator is: When are you going to start blogging Why age 25? That seems weird.
Dear Dan,
On behalf of the Poker Players Alliance, thank you for being part of our landmark drive to sign up more than one million members nationwide. Speaking with one voice on behalf of the great game, we have become one of the leading grassroots advocacy organizations in the country.
We have expanded our reach coast-to-coast, opened offices in our nation’s capital, and we are fighting each and every day to preserve your ability to play the great game of poker. Politicians are hearing our message – that Poker Is Not a Crime.
Today, I am excited to announce that the PPA is ready to reward you for your participation. We are launching PPA Online, a new and improved Web site, and a brand new membership package of valuable benefits.
andrewneeme: RT @DanFleyshman: When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute. 26 minutes ago
Wow friggin’ wow … sorry, trying to reign in the visceral reaction, but that’s all I can say the more I learn about what’s going on in Kentucky, and Gov. Steve Beshear’s intent on taking unprecedented legal action against online poker (and other online gambling) companies. Don’t think he’s serious — that this is an effort on which he’s willing to stake his political career? The state is already claiming to have seized legal control over FullTiltPoker.com and 140 other sites … and we all remember 
