Legal online casinos in the USA: to be or not to be?

Posted under Casino News, US casino news by Online Casino Keeper

This Summer has revealed significant changes for the future of possibly legal online casinos in the USA. Though the future is still hazy, but its contours are now clear enough. You remember that since October, 2006, Americans have not been able to play at online casinos at the territory of the USA legally due to the restrictions connected with the UIGEA law.

Since that time the activists have launched a campaign against the UIGEA and now their success is evident. One of the biggest shots among them is Barney Frank with its famous around the world bill HR 2267. He promoted the bill during many years, made necessary amendments and tried to convince people around that his approach towards gambling at U.S. casinos has reasonable grounds.

At last the bill got its mark up at the House Financial Committee, which was one of key stations on the road to complete success. Many people are now sure that legal online casinos and poker rooms are round the corner, but it’s not exactly so. The bill has still to pass through such stations as marking up at the full House, approval of the Senate and at last the President of the USA.

However, today there is a companion bill, which may contribute a lot to total progress in this sphere. The bill is called the HR 4976 and it is aimed at the taxation of gambling sites. According to the bill, which was introduced by Jim McDermott, taxes should be imposed on all online casinos and poker rooms, and then controlled how they are spent.

There are many obstacles ahead, and some of them are clear even today. For instance, it’s necessary to wait for the hearing at the full House due to forthcoming elections in November. The House now deals only with urgent matters and its representatives have no time to be occupied with the HR 2267. Another obstacle is the attitude of the Senator Reid towards virtual gambling, as his opinion will play a significant role and greatly influence the final decision.

Today Americans still have to visit only a restricted number of online casinos situated outside the territory of the country. But they may soon be deprived of such an opportunity as well. There are the rumors, which are now widely discussed at the forums, that soon everyone will have to make a report about transactions in and out of the USA. Now it’s necessary to declare about it only when a total sum exceeds $10 000, but it may soon reduce to $100. In this case all casino players will be in a serious trouble, as the law prohibits money transactions of that kind.

It’s only the rumors, as where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We hope that when it will become a real legislative act, online casino gambling will be also legalized.