According to industry expert Joe Brennan Jr., chairman of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association, New York's dispute with internet retail giant Amazon could have wide-reaching implications in the online gaming industry.
In order to tax the Seattle-based e-commerce business, New York is trying to have online affiliates of the company taxed in the same manner as if they were part of Amazon.com itself. This benefits the state as many of Amazon's affiliates are actually based within it.
However, this apparently-innocent tax dispute could send shockwaves through the online gambling industry as any precedent set could open up the possibility of online casino affiliates being affected by the infamous UIGEA. At present they are exempt from legislation as they do not host any gambling themselves.