[scrawnybob]

hi

I think the issue here is the signing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which in itself is NOT a ban on online poker in the US

It is designed to stop internet gambling sites taking money via US banks
and doesnt actually clarify any of the previous legislation which may or may not apply to onlin gambling or online poker

So in itself the signing of the UIGEA on the 13th October doesn't really change anything - other than US players won't be able to use credit cards (which alot haven't been able to for a year or so)

THE PROBLEM is this -

As a result of the bill several big publically quoted poker sites have decided to pull out of the market - which has had an unsettling effect across online poker - so Senator Frist has managed through a peice of fairly weak legislation HAS managed to wreck a couple of the big poker sites - at least for the moment

The reason everyone now wants it all legalised - or more specifically either a carve out or legalisation of online poker (which is a skill game) is to avoid more uncertainty

The bill itself is weak - the effect it's had because of players / poker sites panicing has been alot bigger

There are however some states which have made it clear online gambling is illegal in their state and the new bill is not relevant as they say it was illegal before & after.

cheers scrawnybob - webmaster