September 9, 2010 (CAP News Wire) – The online gambling world was a bit shocked at a recent announcement that a new deal will offer legal online poker in 30 U.S. states — and immediately.
Yesterday, Cake Gaming NV — the parent company of the popular Cake Gaming Network — and Atlantis Internet Group Corp. announced a new licensing agreement that will “allow patrons in tribal casinos in more than 30 states to play poker online, legally and immediately,” according to a news release issued by Atlantis.
Atlantis Internet Group describes itself as “a public Nevada Gaming corporation specializing in the development of casino games, casino management software, slot machine software, gaming networks and land based casino development,” per its website.
The news release cited Cake’s patent pending “Casino Gateway Network” (CGN) software as the foundation of the new network, which will be called the “Tribal Gaming Network”. That name comes from the fact that the new network will be “a private gaming network on Indian Lands”.
“Our Indian version of the CGN, called the ‘Tribal Gaming Network’ (‘TGN’) offers an immediate and legal solution to Indian casinos nationwide, providing the largest online poker network in the U.S. This is a significant milestone for ATIG and Cake, and will become an immediate economical shot in the arm for Tribes and states facing deficits nationwide,” said Donald L. Bailey, CEO of ATIG.
So how does this fit in with the UIGEA? Since the network would be run on a private gaming network owned by casinos, the argument is that it operates as a “private gaming network, i.e., ‘Wide Area Progressive’ (WAP), Class III, Class II and online games on Indian lands”. And, according to the NIGC, that means that the new network “is not considered as being illegal Internet Gaming.”
Whether lawmakers agree is another matter. According to onlinepoker.net, “The legality of the operation is determined by the special status afforded to Indian lands with the UIGEA providing ‘certain exceptions for Indian Casinos and Intertribal Internet gaming and states that pass Intrastate Internet gaming legislation.’”
But, even if this new network finds that implementation may not be as “immediate” as they hope, we’re shown the great efforts undergone by private enterprise to find a solution to the current online gambling legal stalemate in the United States.