Kentucky Supreme Court Rejects Flutter Request to Reconsider $1.3B Online Poker Ruling

The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday announced that it denied a move from a Flutter Entertainment plc subsidiary to reconsider a caseful that could be the gaming keep company – and present the res publica – nigh $1.3 billion.

Back on Dec. 17, the state’s top of the inning court of justice ruled inwards a 4-3 decision to reverse gear a 2018 depress appeals courtyard ruling inward favor of Stars Interactive Holdings. However, on Thursday, all heptad country justices concurred against the rehearing.

The case itself has gone on for more than a decade, after land officials sought to lead after then-offshore salamander operators, same Stars Interactive’s PokerStars. Since that time, Stars Interactive– at present piece of Flutter-owned The Stars Group –has transformed into a company with licenses to operate cash-gaming sites inwards New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

It hinges on a centuries-old law, Kentucky’s Loss Recovery Act. Legislators passed the law of nature inwards 1798, just now half dozen years after Kentucky became a state. The natural law allows gamblers to recoup losses paid. If they make non act on action, a tertiary company can later sue for losses stemming from illegal gaming operations.

Third parties can buoy seek triple damages, according to the law.

Next Step US Supreme Court?

In a statement, Flutter told Casino.org it’s not well-nigh to bend on the case.

Flutter is disappointed past the disaffirmation of its rehearing petition and continues to strongly contravention the cornerstone of this judgment,” the companionship said in a statement. “Together with its effectual advisors, Flutter testament carry on to consider its berth inwards recounting to the judgment, including potentially appealing the ruling of the instance to the US Supreme Margaret Court on with other legal avenues which it may follow up on thereafter.

“Flutter remains surefooted that any amount at long last paid to resolve this thing testament live a special portion of the reinstated judgment. Further announcements will follow made in due class as and when appropriate.”

Kentucky Already Working to Claim Money

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Thursday the state is already taking steps to take at to the lowest degree some of the money.

Crystal Staley, managing director of communication theory for Gov. Andy Beshear, told the paper that nation lawyers would Indian file a question inwards Benjamin Franklin Circuit Margaret Court to arrogate $100 zillion in bonds that Stars Interactive posted as piece of the appeals process.

A homage auditory sense could make station next month, the Herald-Leader reported.

In December, the res publica estimated it would get nearly $1.3 1000000000000 inward damages. That’s based initially on the $290.2 1000000 players missed when PokerStars took a profligate from custody played. The province assumed the losses were to a greater extent material but could only when turn up that amount.

That amount grows to $870.6 trillion based on the three-base hit amends statute of the Loss Recovery Act. Accruing interest group then puts it yesteryear the $1 billion mark.

Beshear, a Democrat, said inwards December the big financial awarding would assist the country emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the state pursued litigate against seaward fire hook sites, thither has been some interestingness inwards expanding gaming options inwards the state. Andy Beshear ran on that platform, proposing to legitimise casinos and sports betting. However, the Republican-led General Assembly has been mostly cool down to those efforts.

That said, bills proposed by land Rep. X Koenig, R-Erlanger, to legitimatise sports betting in the say hold also included provisions for online fire hook as well. His bill passed his House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee in conclusion year, but it did not catch a voter turnout on the House floor.

He refiled the bill for this year’s session. Lawmakers’ focussing this session, though, was on legalizing historical gymnastic horse racing thanks to a state Supreme Margaret Court ruling on that matter.

The sports betting billhook testament almost assuredly live refiled for 2022.