UIGEA Enforced: What Happens to Online Poker in the USA?

On June 1, 2010, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) became an enforceable law in the USA. A journalist from PokerRoad.com successfully deposited money into his PokerStars account on the same day, indicating that the impact on online poker players might not be as severe as initially feared.

At the time of the article's publication, FullTilt had 90,000 players and PokerStars had over 200,000 players. Both sites continued to operate normally, with no warnings or announcements for players. John Pappas, the executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, stated that UIGEA would be a minor obstacle for online poker players, and that legal channels for deposits and withdrawals would remain open.

However, some players reported difficulties depositing funds due to UIGEA. One player received a message from Netspend stating that their card could not be used for online gambling transactions. Another player faced issues using a VISA card with full access. A third player successfully transferred $100 to Full Tilt after checking their balance. Additionally, a player's lawyer opened a new account at Dollar Bank and was required to sign a document stating that the funds would not be used for online gambling. Despite these challenges, the overall impact on the online poker community appears to be minimal.