Online Poker Ads Against Horse Racing Policy

January 26, 2008

jeremy-rose.jpgESPN.com is reporting a story on Horse Jockey Jeremy Rose and the fact that he wore an advertisement for ParadisePoker on his pants back in 2005 at the Kentucky Derby.  Apparently, the Horse Racing industry had an absolute fit over this and fined him $5k and suspended him from racing for 15 days.

Rose, who donated the money from the advertisment to pediatric cancer research, is fighting the suspension.

According to Kentucky racing law, all riders must get permission for displaying such advertisements.  Jeremy Rose has been fighting this decision and has filed a petition in Kentucky courts to declare this law unconstitutional.  Rose’s lawyer, Michael Goodwin, is arguing that this law violates Rose’s right to free speech.

Our Thoughts

Apparently big brother is in other industries besides the online gaming industry. It seems ironic to me that a poker ad would be banned from a horse racing event to begin with. Most would consider both gambling but I would definitely consider horse racing to be more of a gamble (and risk) than online poker.