The guidelines are due out next month which is when other sites have said they will make their final decisions about what to do with their U.S. market. The law is aimed at the processing of financial transactions between U.S. players and the gambling companies. Financial intermediaries are prohibited from processing these transactions. There is a movement underway to repeal the UIGEA. In the United States it is being led by Barney Frank. Today, June 6, a suit was filed in a federal district court by iMEGA, the Interactive Media and UK Gambling Association.
In October 2006 when the U.S. government enacted the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act the immediate result was for the stock exchange listed entities to depart from the U.S. market. Since then, many gambling sites have closed themselves to U.S. players. Other online gambling establishment will allow U.S. player to play in free play casino games. Some online gambling sites still accept U.S. players as real money players.
This suit is challenging the legality of UIGEA and names the Department of Justices and Alberto Gonzalez, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve System as defendants. The suit by iMEGA is trying to prevent the United States from enforcing the act by seeking in injunction. The purpose of iMEGA is to provide a rational voice in the world involving internet communications and iCommerce. If the injunction is granted by the court, it may open the door for the reestablishment of internet gambling unless there is further court action.
