The times are hard for us U.S. online gamblers these days. The lawmakers are doing there best trying to stop us from enjoying our favorite hobby, but rest assure, they won’t manage to do it this time either.
September 30th was a sad day, it was the day when the U.S. Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The act was attached to a bill to increase port security (HR4954). The aim of UIGEA is to make it unlawful for U.S. banks to transfer funds to offshore gambling sites, but it does not change the legal status of online poker and other forms of gambling in the U.S. UIGEA says that it is forbidden for financial institutions to transfer funds used to make “illegal” bets, but it does not state what an illegal bet is.

The debate of the legality of online poker and online gambling in the U.S. has been fierce and the question is how the 1961 Wire act shall be interpreted. The old law makes it illegal to place to place bets over a telegraph wire, but this was long before the Internet. Neither online poker nor online casino gambling has ever been condemned as illegal in a court of law in the U.S. Americans can still enjoy a game of online poker without breaking the law, and the new law does not change that. Unfortunately some poker rooms have decided to temporarily suspend Americans from playing, but I am sure that this will change once the worst commotion has settled down.

Check out this excellent Card Player article if you want to know more about the new law. One thing is sure though, we can still enjoy online poker! Have a look at my list, here you will find the best poker rooms for American players.