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.

By Samantha Williams

What is perhaps most notable about playing online casino games, is the fact that players who love a gamble, can indulge in their favourite games. They can play these games any time of the day or night, 365, and they can play them for free, for as little as a penny a pop, or even for high rolling wagers. Just about everyone likes taking a gamble …it is a universal pastime, with no one culture, not having a list of games they indulge with a flutter. Advanced technology has brought any and every gambling game known to man, into the convenience and comfort of our living rooms. Now we may even play casino online games wherever we go with the advancement of mobile gambling.

The British online gambling industry has fast advanced into massive demand, for a product which appears to be recession-proof, and now hosts a sophisticated audience. This is the epitome of the online gambling industry, where the world is sitting up, taking notice and emulating industry leading concepts. It is paradoxical in fact that the UK is leading the way, while the USA falls further behind by the day. This is not for want of trying, millions of US gamers across the board, from poker players to Pachinko, want these games online. The government however is at loss of how to control it sufficiently well to allow online gambling inside their borders. The scary thing is that in the land of the ‘free’, these are a series of games which residents are simply not free to play.

While it is fine for a US resident to purchase prescription drugs (without prescription) online and pay with their credits cards, they are not allowed to swipe their card in an attempt to bag a prize playing bingo. One of the softest gambling games known to man! This ‘banning’ of online gambling is in an attempt to ‘protect the public’ I ask you with tears in my eyes – does it not matter where the Viagra and even worse comes from? But a game of online poker for money is a criminal offence – something Joe Public cannot be trusted to spend his ‘own’ hard earned money on.

UK players who gamble at casino online games, do so under the protection of a regulated market; this also offers them the option to continue to pursue their faith in their favourite brands. While US players who are tempted (and many are) have to play with illegal brands; many which may not be above board. So, in the UK we have super choices and the country with one of the most massive choices in consumerism, has very little choice at all. There is no coin toss needed to see who has it better – the US or the UK? This massive ‘Superpower’ is going to find itself, hanging onto Britain’s red-coat-tails, if and when they ever legalize casino online games.