Lifting of the Online Gambling Ban Imminent?

Many online casino operators now have bigger hopes when it comes to lifting the ban placed on online gambling, especially since the current president of the country is an avid poker player and most especially since States are now looking into other sources of income, online gambling included, because of the recession.

Preparing for the Impending Legalization

Impending or not, but many major online casino operators are now preparing to make their coffers bigger.

Look at PartyGaming.  This major player in the online gambling industry has just recently purchased the World Poker Tour Enterprise at a whopping $12.3 million dollars in cash.  If truth be told, this is the first US acquisition the company has made after the implementation of the UIGEA in 2006 and after they have pulled out from the country.

Rival Gaming's 888 is also said to be on its way to finalizing an acquisition, but what they are going to purchase has not yet been disclosed by the said company.

It seems that these major players know something that we do not, but something the majority wants.  In fact, Cryptologic, the software provider, is taking a keen interest in the moves made by these major players.  The software company knows that if online gambling is legalized, it would generate bigger revenues as it creates partnerships with other US companies.

On the other hand, three big US gambling houses are looking for partners in Europe, especially partners that have Internet expertise.

Brick-and- Mortar Casinos Cashing In

It cannot be denied that one of the biggest supporters of the prohibition of online gambling is the land-based casinos.  The proliferation of online casinos and the fact that many players are choosing to play online rather than travel to land-based casinos have hurt their business, so they campaigned for the banning of online gamming, thus, the UIGEA.

But right now, it seems that they are having a change of heart.  They felt and saw how the online gambling industry grew and proliferated, and they knew that the online gambling industry is not going to go away, so they want in.  Right now, there are some land-based casino operators who are lobbying for the lifting of the ban.

Hopes are really soaring high right now that the UIGEA will be lifted, what with the left and right acquisitions of major online casino operators.  And it seems that the current president being a keen poker player only added more wind to their sails.

Tagslaw, online casino, online gambling, online gamming, PartyGaming, poker, UIGEA

See also

• US Lawmakers Ask to Postpone the UIGEA
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• UK Firms Support Online Gambling in the USA
  The battle of legalizing online gambling in the United States has been happening since 2006 when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or the UIGEA was passed.  The bill states that transferring money through a financial institution to fund an online gambling account is prohibited and against the law.  But it cannot be denied that [...]