Microgaming sites have started blocking IP addresses belonging to Kentucky residents from its network of sites in an apparent reaction to an Oct. 15 decision by Judge Thomas Wingate, who presides over a state circuit court in Kentucky. In addition, the main Microgaming Web site has been down since Tuesday and as of Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Eastern Time the site still had a "Site Not Available" message on its home page.
While some of the Microgaming sites are simply blocking Kentucky residents, others are taking more stringent measures. The affiliate program Star Partner and its network of 14 online casinos are also blocking players from the surrounding states of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri until they are supplied with a "proof of identification in the form of a utility bill and an identification document."
Star Partner added that it understands "this may be incredibly inconvenient for the players in these selected states but unfortunately our hands our tied."
Microgaming, a major software provider to the online gambling industry, was one of the 141 online gambling sites that was subjected to a seizure order in October and given 30 days to block access to Kentucky residents on Oct. 15 by Wingate.
The judge went on to say in his ruling that if the sites in question "reasonably established to the satisfaction of the Kentucky's Justice and Safety Cabinet or this Court that such geographical blocks are operational, (they) shall be relieved from the effects of the Seizure order and from any further proceedings in the instant civil forfeiture action."
At Eurolynx.com, which uses Microgaming software, a disclaimer has been posted at the bottom of its "Viva America" page stating that while the casino is open to players from the U.S., residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Utah "cannot play poker or in the casino, but were welcome to play in the sportsbook."
A similar disclaimer was posted at Intertops.com, another site powered by Microgaming. A link on the home page titled "Important legal notice and disclaimer" states that "no bets will be accepted in the Casino or the Poker room if placed from: Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Wisconsin, Nevada, Washington, Indiana, South Dakota, New Jersey, Utah, Kentucky and New York."