It’s been nearly a month since United States federal prosecutors seized the websites and indicted the operators of three major poker sites, a day now referred to by most in the industry as “Black Friday”.
Following the seizure of Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, prosecutors took aim at several more prominent poker sites and online sports betting sites.
Over the last month, the U.S. government’s actions have literally decimated major online gambling websites that had built their businesses accepting illegal transactions from United States citizens.
In addition to all the websites shut down by the government, nearly a dozen U.S. facing online casinos shut down, almost without warning. And while the casinos weren’t specifically targeted by the U.S. DOJ, they were promoted mostly to U.S. players.
At first glance, it looks like the United States is just following up on the UIGEA by taking a hard stand against illegal online gambling – a move that could very well decrease the number of gambling addicts in America.
But after closer examination, it’s clear to most that U.S. politicians have their own agenda, and it’s all about the money. For one, they started with poker sites.
Poker is the most popular form of gambling in America. Most people who play poker online contend that poker is a game of skill. Even most experts agree that poker does not pose the same risk for problem gamblers as casinos, lotteries, and sports betting. So why target online poker?
After the 2006 passage of the UIGEA made it illegal for gaming sites to accept money from U.S. citizens, major poker sites continued to heavily promote themselves in the U.S. media. Sure, federal prosecutors wanted to make an example of them, but they almost want to get their hands on the billions of extra dollars per year in tax revenue.
As far as the effect it will have on problem gambling; I don’t see it having a lasting benefit to people who have a problem with gambling addiction.
There are still online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites that accept U.S. players – most far less reputable than the sites targeted by the U.S. government. People who want to gamble online will ultimately find a way.
What do you think? Will the ban on Internet gambling in the U.S. stay in place, or is regulation coming? Does this move have a positive or negative impact on problem gambling in America?