iMega V Minnesota DPS Part III

The latest in Minnesota's ill planned attempt to ban online gambling sites has seen a back down by authorities.

Just last month the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) sent a letter to 11 national and regional telephone and ISP providers demanding that they block resident access to 200 online gambling websites listed in the letter. A subsequent review of the letter of demand revealed some of the 200 websites listed don't accept bets from US residents anyway.

iMEGA and the Poker Players alliance were quick to challenge the legal validity of the letter, and communicate their challenge to the affected ISP's.

Now, Minnesota state Rep. Pat Garofalo has announced that Minnesota authorities will be dropping the matter and taking no further action. Garofalo announced that the “legal position underlying the issuance of the notices was reconsidered” and “this is a great day for internet freedom,”.

Letters have been sent to all the originally served ISP's and telco's advising them to disregard the initial letter, and presumably apologizing for any inconvenience caused.

Never a dull moment in the world of online gambling.