UIGEA Clinging On….
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was brought in in 2006 to stop online gambling under the guise of protesting U.S. citizens from the horrors of having a small bet every now and then but really it was a protectionism mechanism for the current crop of American casino brands.
It was successful because it struck at the heart of the payments system by making it illegal for financial institutions to make payments to online casinos. How else are you going to pay? Cash? Don’t think so. The Act was moderately well supported at the time but that was before a global economic crash which hit all states’ revenues very hard. Now some of those states are beginning to wonder whether, as they struggle to recover from a recession, revenues from online gambling wouldn’t be a bit useful.
Some months ago New Jersey started the ball rolling with attempts to pass a state law legalising online gambling and that is still ongoing. A more recent attempt has seen The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative invoke a government anti-recession tool which seeks to block laws which hamper revenue generation. The UIGEA appears to be a clear cut case of that but let’s see what happens.
Nevada Seeks Advice from British Regulatory Committee
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has announced that it has formed a working 
partnership with the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC). The AGCC regulates the British Channel Islands where many of the world’s online gambling corporations are based. A tax-friendly environment means it’s a popular location, along with Gibraltar. The NGCB said it has recognised that “There is no question that the Internet gaming world is moving quickly and at a good speed toward Nevada,” and that they require some expertise in the area of regulation from a region which has one of the most mature online gambling environments in the world.
With relation to the UIGEA, a filing from 888 Holdings, one of the biggest global operators, to operate in Nevada, is the first from a company which operated in the U.S. pre-UIGEA in 2006.
