This is something I really don't fully understand. Is playing poker over the web, or visiting an online casino, legal for U.S.-based players? Apparently, the answer depends on who you ask. After the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) last October nobody is no longer sure of anything. Some say that playing online poker is still a legal activity, while others disagree.
On the surface, the UIGEA does not prohibit the act of gambling in an online environment, but the processing of of online gambling-related financial transactions. Under the UIGEA, all American credit card companies are disallowed to handle any deposits and withdrawals of funds associated with online casinos and card rooms. This means that U.S. players can no longer deposit money to their gaming acoounts and, thus, can not take advantage of online poker games offered...
What makes this legality- illegality issue even more confusing is the fact that although most online poker rooms already dropped their U.S. customers, there are some Internet poker websites that still accept deposits from U.S. players. So, where does this prohibition leave the average poker/ casino enthusiast? Whom will the law hold responsible for the gambling activity taking place?
If accepting U.S.-based players is a blatant violation of the American law, why do such popular and well-established poker rooms like Doyle's Room and Bodog are still willing to face the once lucrative (and I guess now even more lucrative than ever because of the departure of many other Internet poker rooms afraid law enforcement) U.S. market. Perhaps, they know something we don't know? I seriously doubt that the gambling industry moguls are willing to take the risk of having their operations declared illegal. So, does this make the gambling prohibition law bogus and completely ineffective?
And, another thing about the UIGEA. If the U.S. government was seeking to prohibit Internet gambling on the grounds of it being immoral (its availability to minors) and even potentially dangerous (gambling addiction and stuff), why is traditional gambling (I mean going to a land-based casino or poker room) is still OK? Is this preferential treatment towards the traditional gambling industry?
Personally, I think that the prohibition is nothing but temporary. Online gambling industry lobbyists, such as the Poker Player Alliance, will not let the UIGEA last too long. The potential profits from online gambling are to seductive to give them up without a good fight. The way I see it, as long as their are organizations or individuals interested in these profits, the ban on online gambling in the United States is very likely to be lifted very soon...
More detaled information about the legal issues involving the UIGEA can be found at http://www.onlinepokereport.com/... That's what I did anyway...
1 comment:
I agree with the legislation which aims to ban credit cards as a payment method for online gambling of any sort... and i think it should be enforced worldwide – not just in America. In fact, gambling with a credit card should be banned full stop. Not just on the internet. It’s a no brainer when you consider you are placing backing the outcome of an uncertain event with somebody else’s money. Chance and credit do not mix well in my opinion, and continuing to allow it would only contribute further in negatively affecting the high levels of personal debt many citizens today find themselves in. I do however, think that the prohibition won't work; or at least it won’t be received well amongst gamblers - I mean what’s the point in banning a credit card payments made on an online poker game, for example, but not on other kinds of online sports betting? Slightly hypocritical no? I mean how can you allow someone to participate [with or without a credit card] in online horse racing betting, but not put any money on a hand of texas hold’em poker? both activities involve a large degree of chance, and neither are guaranteed to yield financial return.
What really infuriates me is that the minority of irresponsible gamblers [those paying with someone elses money!] have now ruined the fun of online betting for everyone else - those like me who pay with money they actually have in their bank!!
At least for the Americans there is always the free online poker games!
>>>>>>>free poker online
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