U.S. Ban on Online Gambling Not Stopping Many

While some see the ban to gambling online for real money as a law that must be obeyed, others see it more as a suggestion. It was just a year ago that President Bush signed into law an amendment to the Safe Port Act. But that hasn't stopped many U.S. citizens from gambling with their favorite international gambling site.

Many ASU students like sophomore Jonathan Ingram, still play for cash by simply going around the law. While the United States has placed restrictions on U.S banks transferring money to these online gambling sites, players are finding other ways.

Many are using offshore accounts to deposit their money into. Then, the money is transferred to the online gambling site of their choice.

"You have to go through a third person now," says Ingram. "I deposit my real money to an account like ePassporte. It's basically like an online banking system."

With U.S. players like Ingram using online poker as a second income, many are opting for new ways to beat the system.

"I freaked out for a little bit, because I thought I was losing a source of income," explained Ingram. "But I checked around to see what I could do and there were a lot of places that allowed U.S. players still."

On top of school and a job as a valet attendant, Ingram can be found playing online poker at Full Tilt about 25 hours every week. And with bringing home anywhere from $1,000 - $1,500 a week from Full Tilt, he considers this his first job. Parking cars would be a second.