US Members Only: Poll about the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act)

[Mousey]

Originally Posted by jetset

Bryan's right - once the President signed it this became law....but the legislation specifies a period of 270 days during which the US Treasury and the AG are supposed to frame enforcement regulations for the financial community that is supposed to police this silly legislation.

And it leaves big exits for those that can show they cannot reasonably do so.

Anyone have any friends in banking? I'd love to know if banks have already received offical looking letters from the feds about this law... what it says and what it threatens.

[Darem1]

Mousey, I have a friend in banking who would know, and she hasn't received anything formal yet, but they are "investigating" transfers to Paypal, Neteller, etc. to make sure they aren't for gambling.

[chuchu59]

Originally Posted by winbig

I'm still confused.

If you can't go to jail for gambling online, how can they name it "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act"?

Or maybe I'm just confused, because as far as I see they're just making it almost impossible to deposit to your casino account.

Either way, I'm not really complaining. For one, it's saving me money...two, it's forcing me to travel 2.5 hours to a B&M casino, where I'm making me more money than if I was playing online. This way I don't have to worry about lame T&C's, nor whether or not I'm going to get paid

Of course you cant go to jail for this because the Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is unlawful. It's just that they forgot to convert the Capital 'U' in unlawful to "u'.

[Cynthia777]

Originally Posted by winbig

I'm still confused.

If you can't go to jail for gambling online, how can they name it "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act"?

My take on this is, if you break up fragments of the name of the Act, it is an "enforcement" of the law in areas/territories of where it (Internet gambling) was already (or always has been, somewhere in fine print, and not recognized or truly "enforced" deemed "unlawful".

Of course those who pushed for this Bill/Act gained what they wanted by creating all the "hoopla" surrounding this, creating ambiguity by the Act's name...making those wonder or reluctant to gamble online, as with the online casinos in their decision to continue taking U.S. players, and payment processors/web wallets...many do not want to take a chance.

At least this is my opinion.

[supergirleileen]

Should be called the Unconstitutional, let's take all the citizen's rights away, gambling enforcement act. I'm in one of the 11 states so I am really upset. Microgaming was my favorite and I can't play there anymore. With all of the millions of dollars that all of us in the 11 states poured into microgaming casinos, I'm very disappointed that they bowed down to this law. If they ever change their mind, I won't go back to the casinos that locked me out after being such a loyal player. I will go to other groups that I never gave a try.

[aussiekeith]

I am posting a reply here, although I do not live in the USA.
I have read through that new law and it basically says that no money transactions can take place where a person using internet sites that offer cash or any sort of games of chance where a person can win no matter if they pay or not. I have been playing and paid and free lotto and game sites that are in the USA for years. Some of these sites have already shut the doors because of this law.Email Lotto and Jackpot Lotto who have been running for 10 years have now ceased to exist anymore and I have had email from others that they will or maybe closing down by Christmas or shortly after.Some have taken the suspended the lotto games while they are working through the legislation with their laywers.It is more than just online casinos that are part of this picture but also the law gives banks up to 9 months to enact stopping clients from receiving or sending money to any online games of chance. I do not know why so many Casinos and infact any other games of chance sites that are online are banning USA players so quickly.

[twilasue]

Originally Posted by Casinomeister

The law went into effect as soon as the President signed it as far as I know.

But law or no law, it affects everyone and it's going to be interesting to monitor this. I'll be running this same poll every couple of months or so to keep my fingers on the pulse of the industry so to speak. The financial services that most of the players use might bail out in the upcoming months - some have bailed out already. On the other hand, the banking industry might petition the court on this if push comes to shove stating that they cannot monitor this fully. All of these issues will change the landscape of the gambler's world - it's going to be interesting to watch.

well, in effect or not, it hasn't stopped me from gambling (my teeny amount that I do) in any way. microgaming and rtg, I think those were the only ones. And I used my debit card/credit card. It's a debit card, I think that makes a difference somewhere (at least before the bill/and /or not related to this law) but majority of casinos never ask you to differentiate between the two.

But I had very, very small budget this month to play with so I wouldn't be a good statistic to go by, you know what I'm getting at here?

Thanks for clarifying that for me, Bryan, I've heard from others (forum admins) that it was not in effect yet (in posts they'd put up for their members).

[aussiekeith]

For those in the USA I was in my account at Click To Pay late last week and I noticed they have added another card. They have the normal Click To Pay Debit card but now they have brought in a Virtual Visa Card, that can be used to deposit and withdraw money world wide. This maybe of help to those who are in the USA to transfer funds in and out of bank and casino accounts etc.
Also I may add that more Lotto sites have closed down that run from the USA and this is Freeplay too I may add, however Pogo.com is still running and paying out jackpots and prizes to people in the USA and Canada but no inter national players.You have to pay $39.90 per annum to play all their games, which includes slots with jackpots up to $4,999.00. There is no mention of Pogo.com stopping the site in any part of the world.As Pogo give out instant prizes and have raffles you can swap players points to enter in, they are in breach of the new law too.
Very strange, but I guess this law will take sometime to be fully enacted.

[Casinomeister]

I'm closing the poll since I think we have a good feel on what's up.

Interesting to note that nearly 25% of the players hardly play anymore - mostly due to being shut out of their favorite casinos. I'm guessing there were loyal Playtech and Wagerlogic players out there. What a shame.

I'll be running the same poll in a few months time to see if there are any significant changes - and then during the 270th day period when the banks are to have this in effect. Woo - hoo.

[dominique]

Originally Posted by Casinomeister

I'm guessing there were loyal Playtech and Wagerlogic players out there. What a shame.

Don't forget the 11 states that can't play at Micro. That's a massive number of people, especially New York.