| A new administration will take the reins of power in | | | | pertaining to online gaming to the individual states. The |
| Washington on January 20th and many, if not most | | | | new resolution would defer to state and tribal laws in |
| Americans, have high hopes that the new | | | | deciding the legality of internet gaming which includes |
| administration will be able to resolve a plethora of | | | | internet bingo. |
| problems plaguing the United States. Internet bingo | | | | Recently the European Commission (EC) has recently |
| players in the states are hoping the new administration | | | | responded to a complaint filed by the Remote |
| will change the onerous Unlawful Internet Gambling | | | | Gambling Association (RGA). The RGA claims the |
| Enforcement Act which was passed in 2006. | | | | United States is unfairly discriminating against foreign |
| To say that underhanded political tactics were used to | | | | internet casino and poker firms. The US is currently in |
| pass UIGEA would be an understatement. The bill was | | | | a legal battle with Antigua which hosts several internet |
| slipped into a Port Security Bill at the last moment and | | | | bingo providers. In a statement the RGA said, "These |
| was presented in a late night session of congress with | | | | events show that the outgoing U.S. administration and |
| no room for debate. Unlike the UK where internet | | | | the Department of Justice have shown a total |
| bingo is regulated and taxed, the US chose a | | | | disregard for the legal rights of European online gaming |
| prohibitionist stance on internet gaming. The UK boasts | | | | companies and their stakeholders." |
| several of the largest internet bingo operators doing | | | | Many internet bingo players are hoping the incoming |
| business within its borders and the internet bingo | | | | administration will take action to ease the legal climate |
| industry generates a huge amount of revenue for the | | | | surrounding internet gaming. The new administration |
| government. | | | | faces many serious issues including, an unprecedented |
| Despite the UIGEA several companies based in the | | | | economic crisis, massive job losses, a volatile middle |
| Carribean and South America continue to accept | | | | east, 50 million uninsured Americans, a struggling auto |
| internet bingo players from the US. The law has been | | | | industry, and other serious issues. |
| difficult to enforce due to the fact that enforcement | | | | It is easy to see that internet gaming, including internet |
| responsibilities fall on financial institutions who have | | | | bingo, will not be a high priority for quite some time. The |
| been reluctant to take on additional unfunded | | | | seriousness of the above issues means that Obama's |
| responsibilities. | | | | administration will not have the time to address the |
| Utah State Representative Sheryl Allen is trying to | | | | concerns of internet bingo players-at least not in the |
| introduce a resolution which would leave decisions | | | | immediate future. |