Minnesota Will not Block Internet Gambling Websites
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement Division (AGED) recently made the decision to not block Internet gambling websites from residents from the state of Minnesota. The decision was part of an agreement between the AGED and the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) and in return iMEGA dropped their civil suit against the AGED.
iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan Jr. stated, “We’re very happy with the outcome. It was clear the public opposed this, and the swift negotiated settlement by DPS and AGED demonstrates both the merit of our suit and the shaky legal ground that the original ‘black list’ were based.”
In a letter to the ISP’s that took back the block request, director if the AGED John Williams sited the lawsuit of the iMEGA as one of the main reasons that they will not continue to pursue the Minnesota website blocking issue. In the letter Williams wrote, “iMEGA alleged that the notice was not authorized under 18 U.S.C. 1084 and violated the First Amendment and the Commerce Clause. Whether or not iMEGA would have prevailed in court is unknown. Notwithstanding, the AGED has agreed to withdraw the notice. As a result, iMEGA has agreed to dismiss its court action without prejudice. I believe it may be more appropriate to resolve this problem by working to create clear and effective governmental policies concerning regulation of gambling.”
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), which has more than 15,000 members in the state of Minnesota as well as over a million in America, helped the situation and put political pressure on the AGED. Matthew Werden, who is the PPA Minnesota State Director stated, “Minnesota poker players made our voices heard, the state listened and ended its ill-advised and improper attempt to circumvent the rights of Minnesota poker players.”
When asked about the situation in Minnesota and the seizure of poker player’s funds from online payment processors by the U.S. Department of Justice PPA Executive Director John Pappas stated, “I think it’s been a weird couple of months. It was kind of amateur hour up their (in Minnesota) and they eventually conceded to that point and finally announced they were going to stop enforcement of it. And it sends a strong signal to the state that state-by-state action is the wrong approach and will be defeated on legal grounds and political grounds. My understanding from the politicians is they didn’t realize how many people played poker. I had an opportunity to speak with (Minn. Gov.) Tim Pawlenty and he said ‘this was a boneheaded, politically tone deaf move’ by the people in his agency.”
Minnesota State Representative Pat Garofalo was very happy with the recent AGED decision and he also introduced state legislation to halt the move stated, “This is a great day for internet freedom. In the spirit of cooperation and in recognition of the rescission of these notices, I am more than happy to withdraw my bill and in its place sponsor a discussion aimed at establishing a framework for regulating and licensing the online gaming industry.”
The recent decision may have an impact on the legalization of online gambling in the US, since a state has decided to allow residents to play.
