The restrictions and regulations that the law places on US gambling related transactions are considerable, and did cause some issues initially. The law is directed at the online gambling site operators and payment processors, and does not impact player participation.

This law was written in an effort to address money laundering, fraud and other crimes that were once associated with some online gambling operations. What the UIGEA bill does is provide regulatory oversight concerning how online gambling transactions can be processed. Many people are under the misconception that this law makes it illegal for US residents to participate in online gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, also known as the UIGEA bill was passed in 2006. Our guide provides a refined listing of recommendations for these types of sites based on our own personal examination of the various brands, their legitimacy and what they have to offer to players.

It is legal to own and operate an online poker site within these two states.Ĭalifornia is the next state expected to legalize state regulated online poker gambling, with multiple other regions getting into position to also get on board.įor those players who do not live in one of the states that has expressly legalized online poker for their residents, there are still multiple legal options available for participating due to the fact that none of the US federal gambling laws prohibit US players from participating in legally licensed and regulated online poker that is located outside of the United States. Several states, including Nevada and New Jersey have launched state licensed and regulated online poker initiatives for their state's residents and visitors. Where the federal government has drawn the line in the sand is when it comes to sports betting, which they decided was subject to the federal wire act. The DOJ went on to declare that each individual sate could determine their own fate when it comes to online casino and poker gambling entertainment without violating US federal laws. This allowed the potential for the development of state regulated and legally sanctioned online casino and poker gambling. One of the first victories was when the Department of Justice determined that the Federal Wire Act does not apply to poker games or casino games. The online gambling landscape in the United Sates can be very confusing, and there have been some distinct victories and set backs that have combined to dramatically alter the online poker industry.

States that allow legal online poker