US players are still asking “is it Legal play at USA Online Casinos?”. (USA Casinos is a misnomer, ALL Casinos are based outside of the US) It has been four years since President Bush signed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) bill on October 13, 2006 and it went into effect on June 1, 2010. Let me say that it’s not now, and never has been illegal.
The intent of this lame bill was initially to stop money laundering, not to stop casino players from playing in US casinos. They went after “money processors” without much thought and in the process made it harder for players made legal deposits… if you want to read the full story of how this all really progressed: see the link below
Currently there are more than 2,000 Online Casinos on the Internet and of those approximately 160 are real money casinos that accept US casino players
Why only 160? In 2006, many casinos that were trading globally decided that it would be easier to jump ship and not accept US casino players, than to deal with pending deposit issues. The result of this was that USA Casino players panicked fearing retaliation and stopped playing altogether.
There has been a lot of renewed interest in online gambling in the last couple of years, but that lingering fear and curiosity as to whether it is legal and safe still exists.
Dispel your fears. It’s safe, it’s fun, and it’s legal. That being said, now, as it always has been, care needs to be taken when researching your choice of casino to play at. There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a reputable and safe casino.
First Is online gambling legal in your jurisdiction?
Currently, there are states that have enacted local laws that prohibit any and all forms of online gambling: Michigan, Illinois, Oregon, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Washington, Indiana, Nevada, South Dakota. If you live in one of these states, we’re sorry, but you won’t be able to download, deposit or play for free at any online casino. Check the laws of your own state.
Link to UIGEA story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling#legality
- Online support, do you have 24/7 support of some kind?
- Do you offer a wide variety of 200-300 quality games?
- Does the software you use have high quality graphics and audio?
- Is it a FUN place to play (this same goal on your part)?
FREE Play CasinosFortunately, today almost all US online casinos offer the option to play for free or play at their casino for real money. Also downloading (recommended) or playing flash is an option. Many now offer to play on your mobile device. It’s a good idea to play for free first to decide if you enjoy their software games.
It can be a bit of a daunting task to go through over 160 US casinos to find the best online US casino software to suit your taste. The best alternative to doing it all yourself is to find a well-established casino guide or blog and follow their recommendations.
Remember it’s Legal and it’s FUN!
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