Online poker site owes Kentucky $1.3 billion. The state is reaching for first $100 million.

Online poker site owes Kentucky $1.3 billion. The state is reaching for first $100 million.

Article brief provided by Lexington Herald-Leader
  • John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader
March 26, 2021 6:30 AM
  • John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader

The state of Kentucky is pursuing part of the $1.3 billion owed it by an online poker company that ran what the Kentucky Supreme Court has described as “an illegal internet gambling criminal syndicate,” Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said Thursday.

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Lawyers for the state are filing a motion in Franklin Circuit Court to collect $100 million in bonds posted five years ago by PokerStars after it lost a huge judgment and began a lengthy appeal, said Beshear spokesman Crystal Staley.

A court hearing on the bonds is expected April 19.

The Supreme Court on Thursday made its judgment final by refusing to rehear the gambling case, which it decided in the state’s favor in December.