As it stands right now, individual states are free to prohibit or practice gambling of their borders while significant restrictions and limits are put on interstate which activity. Recently, online game playing has seen harsher rules. With the Unlawful Net Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIEGA), it was not explicitly banned but instead it had been online financial transactions which were outlawed. This meant that all online financial dealings from gambling service providers were now illegal which resulted in countless offshore gambling operators excluding US consumers from their services.
Existing in this legitimate grey area, it is no longer a question of if online gambling will go into the US market but when and perhaps how. As just lately as this month, three states possess legalized online gambling and intend to begin offering bets by the finish of this year. Naturally, a gaming organization in Las Vegas referred to as Ultimate Gaming was the first to offer online poker but also for now restricting it to just players in Nevada. New Jersey and Delaware also have legalized online gambling and so far ten other states are considering legalizing it in a few form or another.
Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Game playing Association has stated that “Unless there exists a federal bill passed, we are going to have the greatest expansion of legalized gambling in america. I don’t think that’s what anyone intended, but it is what we’re witnessing.” This poses many questions not to mention concerns for most existing commercial casinos as well as American policy makers. Will legal online gambling mean fewer individuals in brick and mortar casinos? Will this develop a new way to obtain revenue at hawaii and national level? What about taxes and regulations? A rise in gamblers?
Lots of people including Arnie Wexler, former chairman of New Jersey’s Council On Compulsive Gambling has voiced concern that with all the current good this could do to create income and revenue for particular states there could be problems with a rise in compulsive gambling. There’s particular concern regarding social media marketing in america as some spots like Zynga have already begun taking real-money bets.
Taking in mind the questions and concerns, many resort casinos are already making programs to expand into online gambling to check their actual physical casinos. Geoffrey Stewart, general manager of Caesars INTERNET POKER has said “Like any business, you’re always looking for what is another distribution channel.”
