Please gamble responsibly.
by Penny Walker
Readers of online Bingo news would remember the infamous case in Kentucky, USA, which affected the Gambling and Gaming Industry not only in the USA, but also Bingo online sites that are using Microgaming software in UK.� For those who do not remember, here is the brief:
USA has been stifling the throat of online gambling and gaming Industry in a partisan manner, while allowing land-based Casinos and gambling dens of Las Vegas and elsewhere in their country to flourish, where betting is made legal, but are putting forth hurdles in gambling and gaming online.� The law makers of USA restrained Banks and financial institutions from undertaking financial transactions in respect of online games.� As a result, the Americans forfeited their right to play online games and because of this restriction by law, many International sites are not allowing US citizens to take part in the games offered by their respective sites.
The said law is disputed vehemently in the US Courts of Law, by Gambling and Gaming Industry associations and the legal battle is still going on.� As if to add fuel to the fire, the Governor of Kentucky, Stephen Beshear, in September 2008, initiated a motion in association with the State Justice and Public Safety Department, to seize 141 domain names of the online sites.� The domain names included many gambling sites of US, which were running online Poker, Casino games etc., as also some of the gambling and gaming sites from other countries.� Microgaming Company, which is running many International as well as UK online sites including some Bingo online sites like 123Bingo, Bingo Knights.com etc. was caught in the melee.
The case went to Court and Judge Wingate of the primary Court concurred with the action of the Governor and supported seizure of the 141 domain names.� In fact this was a nullity of action as the US Courts lacked jurisdiction to confiscate online domains registered in other countries.� Aggrieved by the decision, the non-profit organizations like Interactive Media Entertainment (iMEGA) and similar other representatives of the Industry went on appeal against the decision of the primary Court judge.
The Appellate Court, headed by Judge Keller,� has passed orders on 20th January by a 2 to 1 majority that prohibited the order of the State of Kentucky to seize 141 domain names of online sites as illegal and not maintainable under the law.� This order has come as a great relief to the entire online Gambling and Gaming Industry around the world. The striking coincidence is this revolutionary verdict has come on the day a revolutionary US President, Barrack Obama has taken over Oath of Office as leader of USA.