Online Gambling Sites Attacked by Pro-Gambling Kentucky Governor

Beshear has asked a Franklin County Circuit Court judge to grant control of 141 Internet gambling sites.

Steve Beshear, the Kentucky governor who has campaigned extensively although mostly ineffectively for casino gambling in his state, has taken a position contradictory to the libertarian philosophy of individual freedom followed by many gambling advocates. Beshear has decided to attempt to shut down all online gambling in Kentucky by seizing control of Internet domain names.

Like Governor Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania, Beshear is all for gambling that puts money in his pork-spending budget, but dead set against wagering that simply allows free choice to citizens. In other words, it's all about the money, because finding a politician who cares more about principles than cash flowing through his hands is rare indeed.

Beshear has asked a Franklin County Circuit Court judge to grant control of 141 Internet gambling sites. According to Kentucky Justice Secretary J. Michael Brown, the state has already seized the domain names of the online casinos, and is seeking forfeiture.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday.

Ironically, Beshear happens to be governor of the state most identified with horse racing, a wagering sport that is allowed Internet gaming privileges. This inconsistency is an issue with the Remote Gaming Alliance and the European Union, groups that argue selective enforcement of laws regarding online gambling amounts to protectionism and violates international trade agreements.

While organizations that weren't foolish enough to register their domain names in countries forbidding online gambling may be ok, any site registered in the U.S. rather than in an area with liberal gaming laws may be in trouble maintaining their ownership on the Web.