Online Poker News: Kahnawake Responds To Kentucky In Domain Seizure Case

October 10, 2008

The debacle in Kentucky over whether the state has the right to seize 141 online gambling domains continues, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission issued an aggressive statement to make its position clear to Kentucky’s Governor, Steve Beshear.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, based in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada, is one of the largest licensors of online gambling operations in all the world. The Commission has always held steadfast in emphasizing its sovereign rights to supply such Internet services.

Rather than sending a representative of the Commission to the hearings in the Frankfort Circuit Court, Grand Chief Michael Ahrihrhon Delisle wrote a statement to governor Beshear, denoting his lack of intentions to comply with the upcoming ruling, should it turn out to be the seizure order of related online gambling domain names.

In the Grand Chief’s letter to Beshear, he wrote, “We are compelled to draw to your attention that your actions will also adversely affect the members of our community and that is not acceptable.”

Regarding the original ruling to allow the Commonwealth of Kentucky to seize 141 online gambling domains said to be in connection with illegal online gambling, the letter stated, “This is a perfect example of someone who knows nothing about the effects of their actions.

“It’s not the first time that a government has tried to prevent us from conducting business and it won’t be the last. But, rest assured, we will always protect our jurisdiction and the integrity of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission,” Grand Chief Delisle concluded.

After his initial ruling, Judge Thomas Wingate decided that he needed an additional week to determine whether his order to seize the 141 online gambling domain names should be reconsidered. His final ruling in the case is scheduled for October 15th, 2008.