Amaya has criticised an ongoing dispute in the US state of Kentucky related to the activities of PokerStars between 2006 and 2011, claiming that the action is “frivolous and without merit”.
In 2010, the state said in a civil proceeding that it is entitled to recover alleged losses accrued by Kentucky residents who played real-money poker on the PokerStars site between October 12, 2006, and April 15, 2011, around three years before Amaya acquired the online poker brand.
A similar action filed against PokerStars in Illinois was dismissed earlier this year.
During the five-year period, Amaya said PokerStars generated aggregate gross revenue in Kentucky of approximately $18 million (€16.7 million).
However, Kentucky is seeking an award as high as $290 million and requested that it be trebled.
Although the trial court indicated that this amount is incorrect, it has not yet entered a final order awarding damages, while any final order would be subject to appeal.
In response, Amaya has branded the action “frivolous and without merit”, and said it will “vigorously dispute” any liability ordered by the court.
“Amaya intends to vigorously dispute any liability that may be ordered at the trial court level, and believes that there are a number of compelling legal arguments reserved for consideration, including, without limitation, the lack of standing to bring this proceeding in the name of the Commonwealth and the Court’s failure to properly apply the law,” Amaya said in a statement.
“To the extent the PokerStars entities may be ultimately obligated to pay any amounts pursuant to a final adjudication following exhaustion of all appeals and other legal options, Amaya intends to seek recovery against the former owners of the PokerStars business.”
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
