This week Kentucky Govenor Steve Beshear (D), begain shutting down online gambling web sites. The list of web sites counts 141 domains that have been "legally" hijacked in the name of consumer advocacy. In reality, it's to complete an issue he's been fighting for - legalized gambling.
Why does this hit a cord with me? Gambling was a political issue during the last gubernatorial election. Steve Beshear stated repeatedly stated throughout his campaign that he WILL get gambling approved in the state of Kentucky. See this page for his praise from his casino supporters.
In Feb 2008, he lost his first attempt to get the voting issue on the ballot in Kentucky. Afterward, he repeated his campaign goal of getting gambling legalized in the state. He must now wait until the General Assembly meets in 2010.
Now Beshear is shutting down online gambling sites claiming unregulated and unlicensed online gambling prey on the states citizens and youth, stealing millions of dollars of revenue from the state each year. The press release even says "It's an underworld wrought with scams and schemes".
IMO this is Beshear taking an iron fist to force the gamblers of this great state to legalize gambling. Will it work? He's undertaken an uphill battle from the start but now he's taking away a liberty from many of the people he needs support from.
