The Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement Division (AGED) in Minnesota recently ordered eleven Internet service providers to block 200 online casino sites in order to prevent Minnesota residents from gambling.

The Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) is trying to have the impending block of online gambling websites removed, as it is seen as a violation of Minnesota residents’ First Amendment rights. iMEGA have filed a suit in the US District Court in Minneapolis, against the director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement Division. iMEGA is arguing that the state of Minnesota does not have the right or authority to force Internet service providers to block any gambling websites, especially in cases where the websites are not located in Minnesota.

“It’s our hope that Minnesota will recognize their error and drop their blocking order,” said the chairman of iMEGA, Mr. Joe Brennan Jr. He continued that “Censoring Internet access for Minnesota residents would establish a troubling precedent of government intrusion into the online world, and we just can’t allow that to happen.”

Even State Representatives, such as Pat Garofalo, believe that the DPS should not be allowed to force Internet service providers to block the gambling websites. Garofalo said “I’m certainly not condoning online gambling, but I have serious concerns about government banning access to websites.” Others like Garofalo are also concerned that if state government is allowed to block websites, that this could be the beginning of a very slippery slope.