USA Poker Update
USA Poker is now licensed and regulated in three American states: Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey, however there are several banks and online payment solutions that are preventing players from depositing.
Banks and companies that are still blocking legal transactions include: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, American Express, Paypal and Discover Financial Services.
These are just some of the issuing prevent US poker players from playing legal poker online, although legal by state law the federal law seems to supersede everything which will become a problem to state-by-state regulated online poker.
Sheldon Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sand Corp has also started planning his anti-gambling online ads campaign to try and discredit gambling online.
US Poker players who are hoping for the return of online poker to America should consider boycotting the companies and individuals who are preventing it from happening.
The American banks are still preventing customers based in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey from depositing to playing poker online, even when they are based in states where poker is regulated.
It seems that some companies are working to rectify the problem namely: Paypal, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.
American Express on the other hand are not planning to change their gambling policy and claim that it will open up the door to underage gambling and will encourage players from other states to play.
Most US citizens are in favor of their right to gamble online and poker sites have adhered to strict gambling regulations before being granted a license to operate.
Anti-Gambling
Another extremist who is opposing the new gambling regulations is Sheldon Adelson, founder and CEO of Las Vegas Sand Corp. The billionaire casino owner plans on running a campaign to promote the dangers of gambling online.
It seems that Mr Adelson fears the age of the internet and sees online poker as a threat to his land based-casinos.
Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, he claims that gambling online will lure underage players and target poor people.
It just all seems very hypocritical and there is no doubt what his motives are for opposing gaming online.
USA Poker
Players from the three regulated states: Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey can play at licensed poker sites. The rest of the US can either wait till poker becomes regulated in their state, move to a regulated state or play poker at one of the unregulated poker sites which accept USA players.
Like the unsuccessful war on drugs and alcohol over the last century in American history, the effects of the war on gambling will have the same outcome by dealing poker underground like a mafia.
Looking back to Black Friday we can agree that offshore poker sites can attract the shadiest characters and the scars are still deep with US players still waiting to be paid their Full Tilt Poker funds. The FTP claims website hopes to return players funds by the end of March 2014, almost 3 years later.
2014 will see more American states regulating and operating online poker sites. 888poker and PartyPoker have managed to get first inline for US gaming license as they have become available. This maybe due to their abstinence from the US market since gaming became unlawful in 2006.
What are your views should US poker be taxed and regulated or should it remain underground?.