Last night, the bill that all of us online players were dreading, was finally passed.
To many, it has always been just a threat, nothing more than a verbal warning. But now that threat has become a reality with Congress passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and stamping down their authority on what has become an immensely popular American pastime.
In an attempt to make gaming transfers increasingly difficult, the Act aims to regulate all monies that pass between sites and their punters, mainly by resticting the methods in which these transactions take place.
According to the bill, and to the expectations of everyone's fears, banks will be required by law to monitor such transactions and block any payments exchanged between account holders and online gaming companies.
This is a dramatic advancement that could prove fatal to not just American sites, but those British ones that depend so heavily on custom from across the pond.
As someone whose main income derives from online poker, this is a huge concern that puts my online career in considerable jeapardy. The majority of my opponents are American, and if they are unable to deposit money in a quick and easy fashion, numbers will surely plummet in dramatic circumstances, thereby making it increasingly difficult for me to earn my usual crust.
All that is required now if for Mr Bush to put pen to paper and give the bill his Presidential signature. Let's just hope that the bill is overturned before that moment arrives.
We'll keep you posted on any updates, but for now, if you wish to comment on the subject, please post your thoughts by clicking the 'view in forum' link below.
