By Samantha Williams
Although legislation and regulation are still pending with regards casinos for USA players, this does not prevent players in this country from accessing offshore web-based casinos and playing online. No matter how legal or illegal an activity this might be for gamers from this country – it is still not entirely clear – despite a DoJ opinion regarding the legality of online casinos and other forms of online gaming. The only thing the opinion has truly made clear is the fact that online sports betting is not allowed.
Basically the publicly traded companies such as 888.com and Party Gaming excited the US marketplace after taking legal advice, and following the promulgation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling enforcement Act back in 2006. This Act is linked to an obscure Wire Act dating back to 1960, and has left both gamers and operators alike, stuck in a no-man’s-land of grey areas.
However, some independent brands have ignored both UIGEA, the Wire Act and the US DoJ, and have continued to ply their trade. Players have continued to frequent these websites, although some casino websites are still exiting this marketplace, most are doing this to better position themselves for when the issuance of legal licensing is written into law – if this ever takes place?! If you are a player from the USA and wish to play these games online, then the risk is available there for you to take.
It is still a bit of a risky business as these website are not governed by US law, so player protection is basically non-existent. Although fortunately, some of the software brands that offer these games in the US of A are reliable brands; operating from reliable licensing jurisdiction; these are few and far between.
Recommended lists of casinos for USA players can be found online, and as the legal status of this industry is currently undergoing change, some sites are available in some states. Whereas websites on IGT and Microgaming software do not operate in the USA under any circumstances at this point in time; Real Time Gaming has sites operating to a USA – facing marketplace, as do a few other software brands. You will find websites such as; Club USA, Lucky Red, Aladdin’s Gold, Manhattan Slots, Sloto’Cash, Royal Ace Casino, and quite a few more.
Online poker legislation is yet again on the cards in the USA, this gives hope for online casinos to piggy-back on the coattails of a game which is as American as apple pie. The pending casinos for USA player legislation supposedly will repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, so it has to take place at Federal level and currently the only laws repealing this Act are at State level. Federal level always takes precedence over the ‘State’, so, still a great deal has to change.
