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September 24, 2008
The United States of America, world leader and role model for democracy, has been increasingly obsessed with curtailing online bingo games and online gambling within the nation, taking an increasingly partisan attitude of the whole issue in spite of the flourishing spirit in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. For this reason, many US players are denied access to their favourite online bingo sites, as these sites face the very real possibility of legal action from the USA should they dare to accept memberships from bingo fans in the USA. Various high profile anti-gambling campaigners in America pushed the UIGEA bill through and abruptly declared all forms of internet gambling including online bingo as illegal, crippling the global industry by targeting online payment processors. Even before the passing of the UIGEA in late 2006, the European Union and the majority of members states were working together to form a regulated industry that could ultimately be accepted as the global standard. The simple target has always been to have a fair and regulated industry, safe for players to play their favourite casino and bingo online games. The US stance has always been that of outrage, mainly due to the nation’s outrage at the untaxed profits of foreign gambling companies. Rather than tackle the issue logically and regulate the industry, as has always been the objective of the EU, the US has resorted to extreme outlawing measures of prohibition and high profile court cases, citing terrorism, money laundering, and the general immorality of it all. As a result of the US lockdown, growth in the online bingo and online gambling industry has seen a major boost over the last few years, with established and regulated sites focusing their efforts in Europe, offering quality games and safe environments for bingo, casino, poker and sportsbook players alike. The US Department of Justice is facing a special delegation from the EU this week, their objective to hold talks with US law-making authorities as to why online bingo and casino sites still face prosecution even after withdrawing from the US market. The EU has not received a satisfactory response from the US DOJ todate, hence the personal visit. The EU mission could not have come at a better time, with Senate Bill 1369 awaiting approval from California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This bill has already been passed by the Senate, and would effectively make online gambling legal in the state, including online bingo. Local charities are urging the governor to oppose the bill, as it conflicts with their fund raising events via electronic bingo machines. Should Schwarzenegger pass the bill, Californian tribal casinos will be permitted to set up networked online bingo and casino games, which could possibly cause a domino effect in states across the USA. All eyes are on America at this moment, from industry leaders to bingo crazy fans in the USA, waiting to see what will happen next. Written by John Witherspoon for BingoStreet.com – the UK’s top resource with access to all the best online bingo games and top bingo promotions.
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