Beshear Targets Illegal Gambling Websites

From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is going after the domain names of Internet websites offering illegal gambling opportunities to Kentucky citizens.Governor Beshear says the owners and operators of illegal online gambling sites are preying on Kentucky citizens and depriving the Commonwealth of millions of dollars of revenue.He says Kentucky law specifically requires the forfeiture of illegal gambling devices, and the Internet domain names of illegal gambling sites fit that definition."Internet gambling has been called a significant vehicle for money laundering and potential sources of funds for terrorists by both the FBI and the Government Accountability Office," says Beshear.In the first action of its kind, a Franklin circuit judge has ordered the transfer of domain names of 141 illegal gambling sites to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The state seeks to force the sites to block access to Kentucky users, or relinquish control of their domain names. A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Thursday.