"All in" despite new laws?

On October 13, 2006, online gambling became illegal in the United States. This law effected everything from betting on horses to betting in online poker games. The online poker world was overflowing with U.S. players, and then it was suddenly shut down.

Poker tables commonly offer games like Texas hold ‘em, Omaha, Seven-card stud, razz and other game types in both tournament and ring game structures. Players play against each other rather than the “house,” with the card room making its money through “rake” and through poker tournament fees.

But the online sports, which became extremely popular within the last few years, were deemed illegal in the United States beginning October 13, 2006. On that day, President Bush officially signed into law the Safe Port Act, a bill aimed at enhancing security at U.S. ports. Attached to this act was a provision known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

According to this act, “unlawful Internet gambling means to place, receive, or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager by means of the Internet where such bet is unlawful under any law in the State in which the bet is initiated, received, or otherwise made.” This means that the UIGEA prohibits online gambling sites from performing transactions with American financial institutions, which is how gamblers use their money online. Download poker wallpapers.

But this hasn’t stopped everyone from gambling. Some U.S. citizens have found a way around this law by finding out of state companies to transfer their money through.

For most, playing online poker is as good as the real thing, if not better. Anytime you want, a poker game is ready and waiting. Another draw to online gambling was the fact that tournaments of hundreds of people are always available. If gambling isn’t legal in your state, getting together enough people for a tournament with a large payoff is nearly impossible But when the law was passed, many of the popular sites kicked off their U.S. customers.

But poker players aren’t the only ones suffering.

Several large publicly traded poker gaming sites such as PartyPoker.com, PacificPoker.com and bwin closed down their US facing operations, which has had a devastating effect on their stock values. These online poker rooms generate the bulk of their revenue by three methods. First, is the rake. Rake is collected from most real money ring game pots. The rake is normally calculated as a percentage of the pot based on a sliding scale and capped at some maximum fee. Each online poker room determines its own rake structure.

Second, pre-scheduled multi-table and impromptu sit-and-go tournaments are not raked, but rather have an entry fee. Around 10 percent of the tournament entry fee is added to the cost of the tournament.

Third, some online poker sites also offer games like black jack or side bets on poker hands where the player plays against “the house” for real money. The odds are in the house’s favor in these games, which produces a profit for the house.

Most of the sites that closed when the bill was signed were the publicly traded companies. These sites closed down to U.S. players & women poker players to protect themselves from being sued by their shareholders. But there are still some sites , like PokerStars.com, that still accept U.S.

customers. Some of these sites are privately owned and others are just interpreting the laws differently because they believe poker is a skill game therefore not being unlawful. Many of these sites use other sites, like Epassporte.com which offers customers a debit Visa Account that is obtained instantly online. Cash Transfers and moneygrams are also ways these sites are still able to offer their services. Play route 66 poker.

It’s obvious the amount of online poker players has diminished some with the new laws. But those that are determined to still play can and do find a way around it. Some of these sites are obviously finding ways around the law. It seems many are pushing for the laws to change. Until then, if you’re willing to take the risk of illegal gambling, the odds may not be in your favor.

Poker News Source: The Corner News