Microgaming to use IP blocking techonology to block US players

Online casino and poker provider Microgaming has recently decided that they will be blocking access to their websites and gaming clients to customers in thirteen US States. The list is as follows:

Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
South Dakota
Washington
Wisconsin
Utah

While the recent change seems to be in the wake of a recent decision by a Kentucky judge to seize 141 gambling and poker related domain names, Microgaming says that the policy has always been in place, they will just be enforcing it now to protect their interests. Microgaming had the following to say:

“This is not a new rule, just sudden enforcement of an old one Players can still play in the Sportsbook. Players can still register from the banned states, but will not be able to play in the Poker client or in the Casino. The IP blocking service Microgaming is using also has a proxy detector, so players will no longer be able to use a proxy to hide their IPs.”

The recent Kentucky decision is most likely aimed at reducing competition on their state run lottery, horse racing and other sanctioned gambling. While the decision will definitely be disputed and appeals are already in motion, the decision by Judge Wingate was definitely a setback to those looking for a future where online gambling and online poker is legal and regulated. Microgaming’s decision as mentioned is nothing new, but will allow them better control over ensuring that they aren’t servicing customers where online gambling and poker is illegal. Microgaming currently runs a larger number of online poker rooms and casinos. 32Red Poker, Crazy Poker, Royal Vegas Poker, Unibet and Pokerwize are some of Microgaming’s better known properties.