Is there Hope after Black Friday?
It was a day that will live on in infamy for US-based online poker players. In a co-ordinated casino sting by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice (DoJ), a series of raids was conducted on April 15th 2011. These were the result of lengthy cases being built against the owners of several big poker sites. The casino sites included Poker Stars, Absolute Poker, Ultimate Bet and Full Tilt Poker. The owners faced multiple charges including fraudulent money operations (several sites would claim that deposits were made for the purposes of purchasing products, as opposed to real money deposits into gaming accounts).
What made matters that much more worrisome was the fact that the UIGEA of 2006 expressly stated that online gambling in the USA is illegal. The transfer of funds from American banks and financial institutions to online casino gaming operators is not permitted. This is the reason why many big name online casinos and poker rooms set up shop across Europe following the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The recent announcement that UltimateBet and Absolute Poker have filed for bankruptcy has sent shivers down the spines of US-based poker players. Real money gaming balances may not be fully recoverable – if at all.
Hope for USA players from New Jersey and Vegas
Both New Jersey’s Atlantic City and Nevada’s Las Vegas are looking into ways of creating legalized state-wide (intra-state) online gambling. This would entail land-based casinos creating online casino platforms to be enjoyed within tracked geographical locations. This would limit mobile or internet gamers to Clark County or the state of New Jersey. These proposals are still in their infancy stages, but hope for the expansion of online gaming rests with these ideas.
Online Gaming Gets a Boost from Live Dealer Casinos
Top casinos are looking to boost their online offerings with live-dealer gaming. Players in jurisdictions where online gaming is permitted will get to enjoy all the thrills of a realistic Vegas-style casino. This means that there is no risk that the outcome of a roulette spin or a hand of blackjack or even a game of baccarat will be the result of foul play. The use of hi-tech video feeds and live dealers makes for an interesting and exciting casino experience. It is often felt that the random number generators online can’t be trusted 100%. While Vegas casinos such as Caesars and Wynn and New York New York would be instantly recognizable to players, many online casinos operating outside the USA would have to undergo credibility tests. The fact is that most of the leading online casinos such as 888.com and PartyPoker are audited and their RNGs are guaranteed.
With live-dealer games, there is no need to worry about fairness. The cards are being shuffled in real time, in front of online players. The streaming technology allows players to see the roulette wheel spinning in real time. Players can see the ball in motion and follow it to its conclusion. It’s the equivalent of being in Vegas, without having to leave home. The most popular games in the live-dealer realm include:
- Live-Dealer Texas Holdem
- Live-Dealer Blackjack
- Live-Dealer Baccarat
- Live-Dealer Roulette
- Live-Dealer Sic Bo
It is expected that live-dealer craps will be available soon. These games can be enjoyed at top-tier online casinos such as 888casino. As a 100% safe and secure gaming operator, all transactions are guaranteed and payouts are paid out rapidly. For USA players there are many restrictions in place. Microgaming has recently announced that it will be removing all US-based players from its affiliated casinos. And with the Black Friday indictments, it may just take some time for the US gaming market to open up to online gaming.
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