Where does Online Gambling Stand

One of the hot topics in this months Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, was the state of online gaming legislation in the United States.

The Safe Port Act was passed by Congress last October, was to improve port security, but attached to that act also was the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006 which outlaws online gambling in the United States by making it illegal for any banking transactions from U.S. customers from online gambling sites. The bill however does not protect poker.

The World Trade Organization stands with Antigua and Barbuda in their claims against the U.S. that UIGEA puts the U.S. in violation of their WTO committments, by unfairly prohibiting foreign Internet gaming operators in accessing the United States market.

The United States could ultimately owe in excess of $100 billion in damages to several WTO member nations including Antigua, the European Union, India, Canada, and Japan.

There are three Bills currently in play that addressing this problem, according to Frank Fahrenkopf, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association.

Fahrenkopf moderated a keynote panel at G2E, discussing the Internet gaming issue, during the time that a Judiciary Committee hearing was going on in Washington.