Poker is here to stay

In a recent blog article for a reputable poker site, it was stated that ‘poker is here to stay’ in the US and that it is highly unlikely to be made illegal in the US on the 1st of June.

The poker community has been voraciously debating whether online poker will be shut down or not by the UIGEA. But, as celebrated author, Mark Twain, said in response to his reported death: “The report of my death was an exaggeration”. When this quote is looked at in the context of the current state of poker in the US, it implies that many within the poker community think that the rumours of poker being illegalised were merely started by naysayers with no real leg to stand on. Poker, apparently, will not be outlawed but UIGEA law will continue to prohibit banks from making transactions with companies that fund gambling illegally.

John Pappas, the Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance commented, “Many financial institutions have already stopped funding online gambling accounts, and the UIGEA doesn’t expressly forbid banks to deal with online poker companies. The law just forces them to ensure that they do not fund illegal gambling activities.”

If banks do want to transact with online poker businesses, all they need to do is get a reasoned legal opinion stating that their client is not involved with any restricted transactions.

So it seems that all the poker community really needs to do is sit back and wait and continue to enjoy the greatest game on earth while doing so.