Can GoDaddy Regain Good Graces Of Online Poker Community?
As many of you internet poker fans will remember, the online domain registrar GoDaddy.com was quick to fold its cards when the Commonwealth of Kentucky attempted to seize control of 141 online gambling domains. While other registrars headed to Kentucky to battle the state, GoDaddy, without argument, offered to hand over the certificates of its online gambling domains named in the case.
Now that the appeals courts have ruled in favor of the online gambling domains – labeling them “gambling devices”, but declaring Kentucky has no jurisdictional right to seize them – it appears GoDaddy is trying to whittle its way back into the good graces of the online poker community.
Last week, GoDaddy announced it would be sponsoring the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, now in its 5th year. The event is scheduled for March 6-8, 2009, in Las Vegas.
“The popularity of poker online has grown thanks in large part to television and the Internet,” Bob Parsons, CEO and Founder of GoDaddy expressed, notably saluting the important role online poker has played in the growth of poker as a sport. “Being an industry leader for domain names and Web sites, we only sponsor the most exciting events. NBC and Caesars Palace are assembling a top-notch tournament with world-class players and I look forward to seeing some great action.”
One ironic point of interest here is that the event is scheduled to feature many of today’s top professional poker players, including the Legend himself, Doyle Brunson. As you may remember, Doyle Brunson’s very own online poker room, DoylesRoom, was on the list of online gambling domains registered with GoDaddy – one of the many domains GoDaddy was oh-so-willing to hand over to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.