Kentucky Seizes 141 Gambling Domains

[Kenny]

http://www.thedomains.com/2008/09/22/kentucky-seizes-gambling-domains/

The domains seized include: (the full list is on the adobe file)

fulltiltpoker.com
indiancasino.com
bet21.com
allslots.com
bodoglife.com
bookmaker.com
SportsBook.com
SportsBetting.com
superslots.com
pokerstars.com
doylesroom.com
GoldenPalace.com

From the comments:

Rick Schwartz // Sep 22, 2008 at 3:20 pm

I own IndianCasino.com for a long time. I got word late last week and initially thought it was a joke. I was given no notice of any investigation or any indication of a problem. I still have the domain name and the last time I looked there is this thing called DUE PROCESS. So we have to see where this goes but it is scary if ANY GOVERNMENT in any jurisdiction in the world could just seize your domains.

My gut reaction is that the state is overreaching and in time they will withdraw their complaint. There is a program in process for disputes and just because they are a state does not allow them to ignore that process.

 

[JMJ]

I've known a few strippers in my time. I've been told that the best nights for them are Sun and Weds nights because of the old men with pockets full of $1's. Happy tithing.

 

[Kenny]

Ok folks, lets not start getting personal here, nor go Off Topic.
This is critical to our industry in more ways than we can imagine, so lets keep the info flowing and the attacks buried.

Cy

Now it seems GoDaddy has joined eNom in caving...
http://www.thedomains.com/2008/09/24/godaddy-caves-into-kentucky/

 

[notlikeyou]

One of the primary reasons the Governor was elected was that he was pitching the idea to get Casino gambling on the ballot & let the people of Ky decide by vote if it should pass. Well he won the seat & quickly found out that he didn't have the backing of enough of the other political members to even get it on a ballot.

This is more of a swipe with a broadbrush to attempt to appease the slowly failing Horse Racing Industry, and shake up some of the other political line walkers that didn't come to his backing when he needed the votes to get casino gambling on the ballot. If he swipes with a big enough brush he's liable to stir up enough antisentiment against online gambling to force some of his colleagues into taking his side. It's much easier to police & tax gambling when you can have a physical legal option as a land based casino. Otherwise the money just vanishes out into the interwebby.

It's not about religion, it's not about cousins marrying cousins, it's not about the KKK, it's not about any of that BS, plain & simple it's about business. If you could hamper one of your biggest competitors (online gambling), appease 2 of your larger groups (Horse racing & the antigaming groups) by attempting to force some website owners to stop providing their product to your state it's win win win. You get the typically unresponsive gambler group to look for alternatives to online gaming, you make the antigambling groups happy by removing the online gambling, you make the horse racing industry happy by being one of the only options to gamble.

BTW it's just my opinion & I'm no more right anyone else.

 

[Dave_Z]

Looks like Enom.com was the first registrar to transfer domains to the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the seizure order discussed here on Monday.

Now it seems GoDaddy has joined eNom in caving...

That's two down and nth number to go. If your primary concern in a registrar
is if they'll "resist" such things, then that's two less to worry about.

Unfortunately it's not always easy to figure out which registrar to go with.

 

[netmeg]

I read something somewhere that Fabulous said they would comply if asked - BUT I didn't read it from Fabulous themselves, so it could be wrong.

I'm just blown away by this. My 77 year old mother is blown away by this. WTF?

 

[MyNet-Tony]

What a gross misuse of power. Completely illegal. This is going to set a bad precedent. I can't believe this is happening in the USA.

Yet another reason to not use GoDaddy.

 

[smashfactory]

this is insane. makes it look safer to invest in the stock market

 

[dgridley]

I need to get out of the Break Room more often! That's insane.. but as someone else pointed out, it's not about morality, it's about money and business, pushing their own agenda. Hopefully this will shake itself out in favor of the domainers.

 

[Eric]

Congratulations Kentucky. You just made me hate every person from that state and I will never ever visit that place.

Don't hate us all! :lol: I never voted for the guy.

 

[Dave_Z]

Update: Ron said Go Daddy didn't cave in:

http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2008/dailyposts/09-25-08.htm

Yesterday we noted we had heard reports that GoDaddy was one of two registrars (Enom being the other) that caved in to Kentucky's demand that several registrars turn over a total of 141 gambling related domains without due process for their clients who owned the domains - this even though Kentucky has no apparent legal right to make such a demand. Today GoDaddy reportedly said those rumors were not true and they did not turn over any domains.

I checked one of the domain names in the list, bet21.com, and it's indeed with
the registrant at Go Daddy:

http://www.iwhois.com/index.php?domain=bet21&tld=com&lookup=Lookup&clean=1

BlastOff LTD
99/16 Moo 20 Perfect Place
Ramhamhaeng 164
Minburi, Bangkok 10510
Thailand

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: BET21.COM
Created on: 17-Jun-03
Expires on: 17-Jun-17
Last Updated on: 10-Jun-08

So I guess that's one down (eNom) and nth number to go. And some kudos to
Go Daddy for currently standing up.

Anyone up to going through the list to see who's given in other than eNom?

 

[dgridley]

Kudos to GoDaddy for seeing thru the ploy this is and doing what right by their customers.

 

[Kenny]

Update: Ron said Go Daddy didn't cave in:

http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2008/dailyposts/09-25-08.htm


I checked one of the domain names in the list, bet21.com, and it's indeed with
the registrant at Go Daddy:

http://www.iwhois.com/index.php?domain=bet21&tld=com&lookup=Lookup&clean=1


So I guess that's one down (eNom) and nth number to go. And some kudos to
Go Daddy for currently standing up.

Anyone up to going through the list to see who's given in other than eNom?

Nice catch, DaveZan.

 

[useless]

i think this iwll have a lot positive effect on godaddys buisness atleast with many poker or related sites

 

[bobbie]

So far only two domains have been turned over. There was a hearing scheduled for today but it has been postponed til tomorrow at 3:30. I think one of the turned over domains was owned by a man who is actually dead ... died of a heart attack over the summer.

 

[useless]

ohh for a second while reqading i thought he died due to this ... which i think he would have

 

[bobbie]

It'll be interesting to see what happens at the hearing today

 

[BitcoinDK]

Im not a legal mind or anything, so I dont see what gives Kentucky the rights to just take over the domains?

How can a state have the rights/power to seize an international domain?

And why do the registrar(s) just give the domains over?

is the domain registant resident in Kentucky?
is the server where the domain is hosted resident in Kentucky?
is the registrar resident in Kentucky?
is anything regarding the domains have any relation to Kentucky in anyway?

What gives Kentucky the rights and power to seize a "property"?

I hope someone can explain this.

 

[bobbie]

The only ones that were turned over were registered at US registrars and Bubba Beshear says they violated Kentucky laws ... that Kentucky citizens were gambling on them. I'm sort of doubting that he'll ever get the ones that are not registered at a US registrar

 

[labrocca]

Godaddy apparently has also denied them the request.

I think domainers need to be more vocal toward registrars about this. They should be made aware that they will frighten the crap out of us if they just give up domains to a state over an illegal seizure notice that's not in their jurisdiction.

We should be adamant that we will not conduct business with ANY registrar that gives up domains to the state of Kentucky.

What gives Kentucky the rights and power to seize a "property"?

That's the problem...domains are NOT property. They are a contracted intangible item with the registry. This is so damn illegal in so many ways.

 

[~ The 34 Year Buzz!!]

...And some kudos to
Go Daddy for currently standing up.

Go Daddy!! :tu: