Minn. Asks ISPs to Block Gambling Sites

Minnesota wants Internet providers who serve customers in the state to block access to Internet gambling sites, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Officials say the practice is illegal in the state, but how prevalent it is is unclear. “It's hard to know that," a gambling regulator said. “I can't tell you if it's one or 500,000. My only concern is that it's unlawful.”

One clue to the prevalence of online gambling in Minnesota is a drop-off in profits at legal, brick-and-mortar casinos. The state served notice on 11 ISPs, targeting nearly 200 gambling websites. “State residents with online escrow accounts should be aware that access to their accounts may be jeopardized and their funds in peril,” the regulator said. (More Minnesota stories.)