Are
you from U.S. and have trouble with making deposit at
gambling and poker sites for us players?
Due to the restrictive actions taken against
payment providers in the US, the list of payment processors
at online gambling and best online poker sites available has decreased. After
two former directors and founding shareholders of Neteller
have been charged in the United States with laundering
billions of dollars in illegal gambling proceeds, on
January 19, 2007 has Neteller
shut down its U.S. internet gambling services including many of best us poker sites as Full Tilt or Absolute Poker.
As well as Neteller also other payments
services were forced to leave U.S. gambling market. Right now the following payment services cannot be used
by U.S. players who want to fund their
casino or us poker sites accounts and receive winnings: NETeller, Citadel, myCitadel, InstaDebit, FirePay, Central Coin, Moneybookers and PrePaid ATM.
The number of payment methods and online gambling sites and poker sites for US players further decreased after UIGEA implementation on 1st June 2010. Many online gambling sites and best US poker sites are unable to proceed credit card deposits. 
In November 2010 ewalletXpress started to disappear from online gambling sites and poker sites for us players. They were claiming first it was due to technical issues but then they had to admit that it was because federal warrant was issued to seize their funds. They also announced that they won't be sending the funds owed to players by checks but after another technical issues are solved players will receive wire. Unfortunately they do not give any timeline how long can it take.
Echeck was having issues with its confidential name "GATM". This term leaked out across internet and after that this company went offline and stopped any communication. Fortunately some online casinos already have new Echeck processor available.
USA Dep. of Justice took domains of 4 US poker sites: Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, Absolute Poker and UB. They also force these poker rooms to forbid any real money play to US online poker players. The affected poker rooms claimed that player funds are safe but most of them failed to pay the owed funds to players. Some of these us poker sites already launched alternative domain (.au or .co.uk). These sites were expected to work with US government to claim their domains back, but only few were successful later.
 
Week after the "Black Friday" the two biggest poker networks (Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars) got their domains back (for outside US use only) as a result of cooperation with US authorities. Real money play for USA online poker players is still suspended at these poker rooms. Absolute Poker and UB.com never recovered and went out of business, majority of players lost their balances.
In spite of the ongoing discussions about online gambling legalization at both state and federal Dep. of Justice seized further 10 domains including poker sites for US players, casinos and gambling sites (Bookmaker, Truepoker, Funtimebingo, Goldenarchcasino, Betmaker, Betgrandesports, Doylesroom, Betehorse, Beted, 2Betsdi). Vegas Tech casinos in light of these events announced that they won't take any new players.
Word Bingo Network (Desperate Housewives Bingo, USA, Bingo, Bingo Workz) announced (due to circumstances beyond their control) closure on May 27th.
Merge Gaming Network announced on June 1st that they decided to disallow new US sign-ups. They claimed that any existing accounts will remain open and will stay active for years to come. Meanwhile in October 2011 they started to accept players worldwide including USA again.
Full Tilt Poker had their license revoked by Alderney Gambling Control Commission after investigations discovered that this online poker room was operating contrary to the legislation. There is hasn't been any reaction from Full Tilt poker. It remains to be seen how will they react and if poker players ever get their money back.
Wall Street Journal published an article revealing that French investment company Groupe Bernard Tapie is interested in conditional sale of Full Tilt. If it goes through they are interested in paying the players that are owed the most money, what seems like a discrimination. They want to cooperate with current owners both investment and management wise. It seems to be improbable that after all the charges and so many unpaid players from this of former poker sites for us players, that the current owners will be involved in the future.\
On 9th February 2011 Everleaf poker network prohibited players located in USA as well as France from playing at the poker rooms using their software. The reason was cease and desist order received from US Department of Homeland Security. Everleaf network claim that money of US and French players are safe but there were also reports that Everleaf poker rooms are rejecting payouts to players from USA. Some reports even claim that legal action is result of unfair practices pf some of Everleaf skins (allowing bots and multiple accounts).
New Jersey Gambling Bill was introduced in 2013 with most casinos in Atlantic City going online as well as many different operators like 888 Poker or Party Poker accepting players playing from within New Jersey. |
Most Important Events |
| 30th September 2006 |
UIGEA |
| Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (or UIGEA) was signed by U.S. president. It prohibits the transfer of funds from financial institutions to gambling sites including best poker sites for US players, with the exception of fantasy sports, lotteries, and horse races. |
| Result: Many gambling sites, best US poker sites and payment processors no longer accept U.S. players, many still do though |
|
| 19th January 2007 |
Neteller |
| Neteller as the biggest payment processor in online gambling industry has shut down services for U.S. market |
| Result: Online gambling sites employed other payment processors accepting US players - ePassporte being the most successful |
|
| 11th April 2008 |
ePassporte |
| After ePassporte was successful payment processor for US players for more than 2 years they have officially withdrawn from U.S. market. |
| Result: Online gambling sites as well as best US poker sites are employing new payment methods with eChecks having the chance to become the next solution for U.S players |
|
| 1st December 2009 |
UIGEA implementation |
| Financial institutions can be penalized for non-compliance. Banks have to report commercial accounts of gambling sites and in worst case scenario can return player's funds and close bank account. Implementation was postponed 6 months. |
| Result: Players should keep separate account for gambling activities and take advantage of alternative payment methods at casino, bingo, sports betting and online poker sites accepting US players. |
|
| 1st June 2010 |
UIGEA implementation |
| Implementation of UIGEA act. Doesn't make gambling illegal, only tries to cut down the payment methods. |
| Result: Players start to prefer money transfers (MoneyGram) |
|
| 22nd November 2010 |
ewalletXpress |
| ewalletXpress started to disappear at most online gambling and US poker sites since start of November. First they claimed it was due to technical issues. Unfortunately that was not the case. ewalletExpress has to pull out of U.S. market after federal warrant was issued to seize their funds. |
| Result: UseMyWallet is one of few options remaining that can be used as ewalletXpress alternative |
|
| 30th March 2011 |
Echeck |
| The processor of Echeck payment option went offline after its confidential name leaked. |
| Result: Some casinos and US poker sites introduced new Echeck processor |
|
| 15th April 2011 |
Domains Seizure |
| USA Department of justice seized domains of four of the biggest us poker sites and made them not to allow currently registered players from United States to play real money games. |
| Result: Affected US poker rooms restrict US real money play |
|
| 22th April 2011 |
Domains Returned |
| Full Tilt and PokerStars got their .com domains back after cooperation with US Department of Justice. Absolute Poker and UB.com are still having problems. Their withdrawals are extremely slow. |
| Result: players at these former US poker sites are still restricted and there are considerable delays in withdrawals |
|
| 23th May 2011 |
Domain seizure |
| Domains of further 10 us gambling sites were seized on Monday May 23rd. This time these domain include online poker sites for US players, casinos and sports betting sites. Most of the sites just changed the domain and haven't issued statement if they will continue to accept players from United States. |
| Result: Most online gambling sites that accept players from United States change their domains from .com to those registered in jurisdictions where online gambling is 100% legal. |
|
| 24th May 2011 |
Vegas Tech |
| The gambling companies running online casinos using Vegas Tech software announced that their casinos won't accept any new players. The reason was states as "in light of recent events". From their statements it looks like they let the existing players play but won't take any new players. |
| Result: New players cannot register for an account at Vegas Tech casinos. |
|
| 27th May 2011 |
Word Bingo Network |
| Word Bingo Network bingo halls announced that due to circumstances beyond their control they have to close immediately. |
| Result: Word Bingo Network issued statement that they will do their best to settle all accounts if and when possible. |
|
| 1st June 2011 & October 2011 |
Merge Gaming |
| The next poker network that pulled out of the US market. However they claim that existing US players remain unaffected and that it is only temporary decision. Later in October 2011 Merge Gaming poker room issued statement that they accept players worldwide again making the network poker sites for US players again. |
| Result: New players from USA cannot register for an account at Merge Gaming poker rooms. |
|
| 29th June 2011 & October 2011 |
Full Tilt Poker |
| Alderney Gambling Control Commission, under which was Full Tilt licensed, has suspended the license of this one from most popular poker sites ofr US players and as a result also operations of Full Tilt Poker. The reason for suspension was investigation in which was discovered that Full Tilt was operating contrary to Alderney legislation (bribing, money laundering etc.). Hearing is scheduled for 26th July. |
| Result: Full Tilt Poker stopped operating and it is not possible to play or to make a withdrawal. It remains to be seen if Full Tilt can recover the license after hearing or if they apply for license elsewhere. There is a possibility that they won't recover. In October 2011 there are reports that French investment group wants to buy Full Tilt and pay the high stakes players. |
|
| 2rd December 2011 |
US Department of Justice |
| United States Department of Justice unintentionally (response to inquiries whether inter-state lotteries would be against the law) declared, that almost every form (except to sports betting) of intra-state internet gambling is legal under federal law. |
| Result: There is a hope for online gambling community that soon at leas online poker and casino will be fully legal in US states that would legalize it. |
|
| 9th February 2012 |
US Department of Homeland Security |
| Everleaf Gaming Network updated their terms and conditions on 9th February that they do not accept real money players from USA and France. |
| Result: They claim that the funds of players from restricted countries is safe but some reports about rejected withdrawals put it in doubts. |
| 21st November 2013 |
New Jersey |
| New Jersey Gambling bill wasintroduced to offer poker and casino gambling for players within New Jersey and outside US. |
| Result: Multiple casinos and poker rooms were established with some established poker rooms like 888 or Party Poker startying to accept players from NJ. |
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