Cereus Poker blocks Kentucky residents from sites

The CEREUS Poker Network, which was formed last week from Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, has opted to make a stunning move by blocking players in Kentucky from accessing either site. The state’s Governor, Steve Beshear, is seeking to seize 141 Internet gambling domain names which also includes both of the CEREUS rooms.

Early Monday morning, Kentucky players on Absolute Poker received an email stating,

“We regret to inform you that, effective immediately, AbsolutePoker.com is no longer available to Kentucky residents. This means that you will not be able to access our website and software from within the state boundaries of Kentucky.”

A link to the site’s cashier and email support were also provided. A similar email was also sent to Ultimate Bet players. At this time, online poker rooms such as PokerStars, Full Tilt and Bodog are still accepting business from players in the state of Kentucky.

CEREUS’ move to eliminate business from Kentucky follows a similar move by sites on the Merge Gaming Network as well as Cake Poker. The source of the issue comes from an ongoing legal battle between the Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the owners of 141 Internet gambling domain names. Joe Brennan, CEO of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association said, “Pulling out of the Kentucky market, especially in advance of the December 12th hearing, means that they are bowing to Kentucky’s demands without going to the hearing. The seizure hearing has been stayed by the Court of Appeals, so there’s no reason for them to leave. Doing anything in advance of the December 12th hearing is premature.”

A three judge Appeals Court panel will meet on that date to decide the fate of the 141 Internet gambling domain names. Judge Thomas Wingate, a circuit court judge, handed down a decision on October 16th stating, “Any of the 141 defendants… who, on or before 30 days from this Opinion and Order, installs the applicable software or device… which has the capability to block and deny access to their online gambling sites… shall be relieved of the effects of the Seizure order.” In layman’s terms, if a site disallows users from the State of Kentucky from playing online, they will be relieved of any wrongdoing.

A final forfeiture hearing was originally scheduled for December 3rd but that date has since been changed because the Court of Appeals will hear the case nine days later. When asked why Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, both owned by parent company Tokwiro, would opt to pull out of the market, Brennan said, “The only thing I can think of is that it’s an extreme reaction to the press that they’ve gotten from 60 Minutes and the Washington Post.”