The Legality of Online Casinos and Poker Sites

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has been in the U.S. for some time now, and those in the gaming industry have spent all this time trying to sort it all out. Here's how the UIGEA affects you as a card player.

U.S. Online Gambling Legislation and Poker Sites

The U.S. has threatened prosecution of those sponsoring Internet poker in the U.S. and has even made some arrests. As a result, many sites have chosen to withdraw from the U.S. market rather than deal with American legal issues. PartyPoker is the most prominent of these sites.

However, other sites continue to accept American customers, including PokerStars, FullTiltPoker and recently DoylesRoom, which had temporarily withdrawn from the U.S. market while analyzing the legislation.

U.S. Online Gambling Legislation and You

It is still not illegal for you as a player to play online poker. The legislation simply prohibits U.S. banking institutions from dealing directly with the poker sites. If you can figure out a way to get funds to and from the online casino, you can play with impunity. The poker site of your choice will have suggestions for how you can do this.

U.S. Gambling Legislation and the Future

Some U.S. legislators have proposed making an exception for online poker and regulating it, rather than outlawing it. Given the cash influx, this could provide for the U.S., it is hard to imagine that the Congress would fail to give it serious consideration. With the U.S. Presidential election on the horizon, the days of persecution of online poker and casino sites may be coming to a close. Time will tell.