Attorneys fight against Ky. Web gambling lawsuit

Gov. Steve Beshear's administration--which supports legalizing casino gambling in the state--says the online gambling Web sites are illegal and Kentuckians should not have access to them.

Attorneys opposing the state, however, say Kentucky doesn't have jurisdiction on a case that could have international ramifications.

"These domain names do not exist here," said Jerry Stouck, a Washington attorney representing the Interactive Gaming Council. "They can't be found in Kentucky and therefore they can't be seized here."

Attorneys for Kentucky have asked Judge Thomas Wingate to forfeit control to the state of 141 gambling related sites, some of the Internet's most popular. They claim the Web site names should be treated as illegal gambling devices and blocked from doing business in Kentucky.

Beshear, a Democrat, made his support for a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling a central focus of his campaign for governor last year. The governor tried and failed earlier this year to get the General Assembly to put a proposed amendment before voters.

Kentucky already allows gambling on horse racing and bingo, and has a state lottery.

Still, Beshear has called the Internet gambling sites targeted by his administration as "leeches on our communities" and acknowledged the move would protect the state's "signature industry."

Wingate said he would hope to have a ruling by next week.

Rob Slauenwhite, a 28-year-old Louisville resident, attended Tuesday's court proceedings wearing a shirt that advertised a Web site where he likes to play poker. Slauenwhite, who works two restaurant jobs and is studying for his master's degree, said he thinks the state is attempting to infringe on personal rights.

"It's just something I like to do in my home," Slauenwhite said, adding that he voted for Beshear because of his support for gambling. "I feel it's more of a state's invasion trying to take that away from me what I'm doing privately in my own home."