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State of Kentucky Sues to Reclaim Online Gamblers Losses
The State of Kentucky is attempting to use an obscure state law to recover losses incurred by residents of Kentucky who gambled via online gaming sites. In late March, a suit was filed in Franklin Circuit Court against Ireland-based Pocket Kings Ltd., the operator of the Full Tilt Poker website, as well as unknown entities that operate dozens of other online gaming sites.
The statute in question states that in instances of illegal gambling, the winners have no right to collect the winnings. Instead, those who lost can sue to recover triple the amount of their loss under the law. Furthermore, if the loser does not sue within six months of the loss, any other person may sue the winner.
One issue with the lawsuit is that it is the individual gamblers who win and lose bets made with other gamblers, not with the online gaming sites. However, in the lawsuit, the State of Kentucky is arguing that the defendant websites are the winners because they receive a fee for operating the gaming site.
If the lawsuit is successful, popular online gaming sites could be shut down, not only to the people of Kentucky, but to people around the globe as well.
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