Pappas said," Online poker is and should remain a lawful activity in the Commonwealth, and the state could seek to regulate and tax it if they wish."
He went on to say, "Further, online poker is not a threat to the brick and mortar casino, rather it is a low stakes proving ground where people learn the game and take those skills to casinos. Just ask Vegas whether online poker has helped ... not hurt their poker rooms. The thousands of Kentucky residents who play online poker should not be relegated to second class citizenship simply because they play a game of skill on the Internet."
Pappas said the PPA will be following the legal case very closely but it was doubtful it would have an official standing before the court.
When asked about the constitutionality of Kentucky blocking online gambling sites Pappas said," By blocking online gambling sites in Kentucky, Governor Beshear is also blocking these sites for residents of other states and countries. This clearly oversteps his bounds as Governor of Kentucky and likely violates several laws including the U.S. Constitution."
"Many of Governor Beshear's arguments- that online poker is illegal, unregulated and without a mechanism to capture tax revenue- are false," said Pappas. "Online poker is not illegal under Kentucky law, is regulated in its home jurisdiction and the Commonwealth of Kentucky chose not to license and regulate poker Web sites."
Pappas said that if the Governor wants tighter regulations, taxation mechanisms and consumer protections on Internet gambling that he should support federal legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, H.R. 6870, which would add more oversight.
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