ABOUT THE UIGEA AND THE LEGALITY OF POKER and CASINO in the USA

I found the following text while browsing and it is courtesy of Holdem Poker Chat and thought I'd share it with you to clear up some possible confusion that might arise when it comes down to the legality of online poker within the USA.

A common misunderstanding of the US legislation regarding online gambling is to think that it is a ban on the actual online gambling activity. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006 does not ban online gambling but it forces all banks, financial institutions and third party payment processors to block all transactions with gambling operators. Recently this has been made aware with the downfall of eWalletXpress and more and more banks in the US also deny gambling transactions as well.

However, it is important to acknowledge that it is not that you are not allowed to play online, but when your payment cannot be processed is merely because the payment processor is forced by law to block the transaction.

Some companies have closed their doors to US players not because of the law but because they need to protect the interest of the company. This means that their investors fear that this ruling is so grey that it was better to remove themselves from the US market for their best interest as stockholders did not want anything to do with it. The UIGEA is so ambiguous and has so many unanswered questions that even financial institutions stated that it would be near to impossible to monitor transactions in the way the US government wants them to.

Now to answer the question of whether it is legal or not to play online poker or at online casinos first you must be aware that the UIGEA did not make gambling illegal, but it is recommendable that you always check your state laws. Some states prohibit forms of online gambling while others only outlaw some games. You should also know that in legal cases not even a single player has ever been charged for online gambling.

The Poker Players Alliance gives you as poker player the opportunity to have your voice heard and every and all support is welcome. The PPA has a large lobbiest group and they have been a leading force in helping us out and also changing the US law regarding online poker. If you are not a member yet, please visit their website and join the PPA today!