Kentucky Online Casino Attack Opposed by Libertarian Think Tank

We think the issue is very serious and could have ramifications beyond the area of gambling. It?s an act of censorship.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's ongoing attempt to seize the Internet domain names of online casinos has drawn attention well beyond the online gambling industry. A group called the Bluegrass Institute has called a meeting of authorities from around the nation on Monday to discuss the ominous effects of the Kentucky action.

Jim Waters, director of policy and communications for the Institute, said the group was designed to promote the concepts of the nation's founding fathers. In an interview with Poker News Daily, he said the organization favored "limited government, personal responsibility, and economic prosperity. We also conduct research on policy issues and are working to market our ideas and solutions.”

Speaking on the domain name issue, Waters remarked, "We think the issue is very serious and could have ramifications beyond the area of gambling. It’s an act of censorship. One of the issues that we’re promoting is more transparency and more freedom. This is certainly moving in the wrong direction.”

Among the topics to be discussed at the forum, conducted a day before the next court hearing in the case, are the affects on Internet freedom and technological innovation, and the national and international ramifications of the Kentucky filing.

The censorship and inconsistencies of attacking online casinos while permitting online wagering on horses and lotteries may spell trouble for the United States in its defense against the European Union's investigation of protectionist trade policies.

Meanwhile, libertarians and believers in free speech and personal freedoms are appalled at the governor's actions. Writers to local newspapers compared Beshear's moves to those of a dictatorship, and one said such imperious behavior was more suited for China.