Global Online Gambling Outlook

Online Gambling has long been a big business. Initially the phenomenon that spread rapidly was totally unregulated. The advent of Online Casinos followed by Online Poker caught most Governments out who failed to legislate for online gambling.

What has followed has been a bit of a mixed bag. The online gambling industry has tried to regulate itself with a few organizations set up and being funded by operators. There have been a lot of questions asked about the impartiality of these organizations during the various crises that beset the online gambling industry.

The real game changer for online gambling and in particular online casino operators was the implementation of UIGEA. This bill made it illegal for anyone to transact to an online gambling venue – it did not specifically ban online gambling. As soon as this Federal Bill passed it meant that a number of publicly listed companies had to withdraw from the largest online gambling market in the world. That would be the United States of America.

This did not however deter a large amount of operators on both the Casino and Poker side of gaming. Indeed the withdrawal of major companies like 888 and Party Gaming meant that opportunity existed for others who were prepared to gamble.

All of this seemed to be working out until recently, the events of what is now known in the industry as Black Friday where the US Government cracked down on the largest Poker Rooms and made a number of confiscations of both domains and funds, has changed the landscape again.

A large number of operators from across the spectrum have removed themselves from the market as it seems that it just does not pay to tangle with the US Government.

The question has been asked if this is the prelude to legislation in the United States. From looking at all of the evidence and the moved made by land based game suppliers it does appear that this is the case. This can only be a win, win situation. The public get what they want, and what they want is to gamble online in a regulated safe market.

The US government will also in all likelihood get what it wants, and that is a slice of the online action in the form of taxes. That we think is a fair solution and we do look forward to the day when all of this has become a reality,

Other parts of the world – most notably the United Kingdom and most of Europe have successfully implemented legislation on online gambling products. The USA therefore does have working examples to make use of.

Written for Online Keno by Greg.