Is Online Poker illegal in the US? What’s really going on?

There are some startling decisions about how online poker functions about to develop. The US law that was passed last summer is under scrutiny again. Due to the overwhelming response of poker players wanting to repeal the law, a court hearing could take place as soon as September 26th, 2007.

A U.S. online poker player has never been prosecuted for playing online poker. There are still at least four large online poker rooms that still take bets from US players. Those rooms are Full tilt Poker, Poker Stars, Ultimate bet, and Bodog. The funny thing is that these poker rooms have endorsed players that you still see all over the television. Like, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Chris Moneymaker, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and many more. These online poker companies are private which allows them to avoid much scrutiny in the public eye.

It's amazing. I am playing poker on Bodog right now as I am writing this article. I had no problem using my credit card to make a deposit at Bodog. The transaction was instantly approved by my US Bank. The bank I use is called U.S. Bank.

In essence, the UIGEA poker ban passed on October 13th, 2007 has had a very small impact on US poker players. Ironically, the US online poker market has been consolidated into the hands of a few wealthy people and companies. The online poker rooms still exist and the ones like Poker stars that still take US players have grown by several hundred percent or more overnight.

There appears to be no end in sight to US poker. Online poker is a multi -billion dollar a year industry, and the US market only accounts for 50% of it. There is no Federal law in place in regards to a US citizen playing poker online for real money. There are 11 states whom have laws against it, so you should check the laws in your jurisdiction before ever making a wager of any kind online.

Ironically, it is also possible for a US citizen to own part or all of a online poker room providing the company isn't based in the US and that the company does not take wagers from US players. There are countless opportunities to get a piece of this market from any citizenship legally.

The much anticipated UIGEA court hearing to repeal the US law has been pushed up to September 26th 2007. The case is being filed by iMEGA. The defendants are the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors - all agreed to the date change. The defendants asked for more time to get prepared.

Time will only tell as it appears the courts' decision and ruling could go either way.

Copyright (c) 2007 Robert Shiloh

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