Online Poker Rooms React To Online Gambling Law
After the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act on September 30th, the majority of online poker sites providing services to US residents were forced to revise their policies toward American players. As some rooms, including such online poker grands as Party Poker, Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker, have issued direct statements, declaring their reactions to the legislation, others are silent on the issue, saying that they are still analysing the online gaming bill and are still to be heard from in the future. We at PokerWorks.com have gathered the statements from all of the major rooms with largest US player traffic, which you can read below.Party Poker have responded to the media shortly after the passing of theonline gaming ban: "After taking extensive legal advice, the Board of PartyGaming has concluded that the new legislation,
$1,000,000 freeroll at paradise Poker if signed into law, will make it practically impossible to provide U. S. residents with access to its real money poker and other real money gaming sites. As a result of this development, the Board of PartyGaming has determined that if the President signs the Act (the Internet gaming bill is known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006) into law, the Company will suspend all real money gaming business with U. S. residents."
Titan Poker have issued an official statement via their newsletters, which says: „Due to the recent passing of the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act by the United States Senate on September 30, 2006, and its imminent enactment as federal law, we will no longer allow real money gaming activities from United States residents."
Poker Stars have issued a statement saying: "PokerStars' management and legal team are examining the bill and at this time there has not been any decision made one way or another with regards to accepting business from U.S. customers..."
Full Tilt Poker have issued a statement on their website where they say that „You will still be able to deposit and withdraw money from the site using the same methods and payment processors you have always used, and your money will remain completely safe and secure. We cannot predict how the online poker experience may change in the future, but we do not expect any immediate impact from the legislation, as the banking industry has 270 days to implement new rules after the bill is signed."
Absolute Poker: "Absolute Poker games are still available and that you can continue to enjoy the site as you always have. The new law does not change the legality of playing online games nor will make us close any US customer accounts."
VIP Poker issued a statement saying: "Due to the imminent passing of the Federal Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act on Sept. 30, 2006, we are no longer accepting wagers from residents in the United States."
Paradise Poker haven‘t made an official statement yet, but several media sources state that this room will be withdrawing from the US market as soon as their parent company SportingBet, does.
A similar situation goes with Bodog, which still haven‘t responded officially, yet other sources indicate that Bodog will be continuing their business as usual.
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