The Poker Lab Rat

The US Bill is all about enforcement - ie enforcing an existing law through changes in banking practices. “Online gambling” is not illegal under the existing law (non US-based sports betting is illegal, courtesy of the 1961 Wire Act).

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Prohibition Act contains no provisions that make it illegal for a person residing in the U.S. to bet with an online gambling company. All the Bill’s provisions are directed at trying to stop the flow of US money to offshore gambling companies.

Understandably the banking industry is frustrated. “The bill sets up banks to police a social issue,” said Laura Fisher, spokeswoman for the American Bankers Association. “It’s not something we want to encourage.”  The banking industry has also stated that it is not capable of enforcing restrictions on Internet gambling transactions. Implementing any form of credible monitoring system will cost billions of dollars, take potentially years and is unlikely to achieve its objectives as alternate payments solutions emerge.

Use of Credit cards for gambling has reduced considerably over the last few years - many poker players have been using other payment methods to get money into and out of gaming sites. Blocking credit card transactions will have little or no long term impact on poker play. Non-US companies like Moneybookers and other secure, confidential e-wallet / e-check services are the best bet for US players.

The following is an official statement recently released by FirePay (an e-check service provider):   “The Act does not define ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ nor does it make unlawful any activities by financial institutions that are not themselves gambling businesses. The Act directs the United States Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury to develop regulations that would direct financial institutions to identify and block certain types of financial transactions connected with unlawful Internet gambling”.

The team at PokerLabRat.com will keep all our reviews and site content up-to-date to reflect the current legal stance adopted by each online poker room we promote. Some poker rooms have in our view over-reacted to the US ’situation’ and withdrawn all services from all US residents - for many other sites it is ‘business as usual’. We are also confident many will revise their stance as the situation is clarified.

All of the sites we recommend are closely monitoring the situation but here are some official statements:

The Palace Group (owner of top Prima Poker site Spin Palace Poker): US anti gambling law changes mean that players in the following states can not bet at Spin Palace Poker: Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington & Wisconsin. Spin Palace will continue to allow players to play from the remaining states.

Coral Eurobet Group (owner of Eurobet Poker, an Ongame Poker Network site):  Due to the recent actions by US regulators, Eurobet has regretfully decided to no longer accept Internet transactions from US residents.

Bet365 Group (Operates our top rated Prima Poker room Bet365Poker): Following the passing of the Safe Port Act, bet365 have decided to no longer accept customers who are resident in the USA. bet365 regret any inconvenience that this decision may cause & strongly retain the view that proper regulation rather than prohibition is the right way forward in respect of the gambling industry.

International All Sports Limited (”IAS” - operates Ongame-based Canbet Poker) issued a statement saying that the company “….is disappointed that the USA Government is passing laws to circumvent its commitment under the General Agreement of Trade and Services to the World Trade Organisation to allow free international trade in an effort to protect USA gaming companies that operate in the USA.”   Canbet Poker - No USA Poker Players.