Legal, American Online Gambling
“One day, online gambling will be legal in the United States.” A couple years ago, that statement carried about as much weight as a sandwich board reading, “The End is Near,” and why wouldn’t it?
The US Government has been working overtime to keep Americans from gambling online since the industry was in its infancy. Between the Black Friday indictments, the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act of 2006, the Feds seemed unlikely to ever give in. Despite the occasional whiff of optimism, this seemed like a battle that just couldn’t be won.
Still, an army of lobbyists worked tirelessly with the hope of opening up the American market, no matter how impossible that sounded to outsiders.
Truth: Whatever all those American Gaming Association and Poker Players’ Alliance lobbyists and lawyers were doing in Washington was extremely effective. That army of well-funded attorneys and power brokers were able to convince Federal judges that poker is a game of skill, not a game of chance.
With that obstacle out of the way, the path was cleared for the DOJ’s shocking 2011 Christmas Gift, which left the decision to regulate in the hands of the states.
See, all it takes to push forward a very reasonable idea are millions of dollars, some influential lobbyists, and about ten seasons of Law & Order worth of lawyers.
Enjoy regulated online gambling, citizens of New Jersey, Delaware and New Jersey!