The drama may finally be coming to an end.  The controversial domain name case in Kentucky started way back in late 2008.  The case went all the way to the Supreme Court though many believed it did not have legs to walk that far.  But finally, after months of nail biting the case will be closed forever.  The Kentucky Supreme Court is prepared to publish their ruling on the case on January 21, 2010.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear sent shockwaves throughout online casinos when he threatened to seize the domain name of 141 online casinos and gambling related sites if they did not block their services to Kentucky residents.  Beshear moved forward by utilizing a law that forbids gambling devices in Kentucky.  Online casinos are hardly gambling device and more like web based international businesses.

The Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association is the main body squaring off against the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the defense of online casinos.  Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association chairman Joe Brennan Jr. believes regardless the outcome of the case, online casinos will be fine.

“The lawsuit is ultimately pointless because the sites would continue to operate without their domain names,” explained Brennan.

“The only players who type in a domain name are the ones looking to initially download the software, and the search engines could easily be changed to recognize a new address.”

The affects of this case range well beyond online casinos.  If Kentucky wins it will set a precedent that international companies are subject to local laws over the Internet.